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Born
about 1554, Sir Walter is probably erroneously credited with having placed his
cloak on a mud puddle so that Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, would not get
her feet muddy. In 1585 Sir Walter, was the main financial promoter of the
expedition to Roanoke Island (now North Carolina). He led the journey,
despite the fact that the Queen forbade him to go. He is credited with
introducing tobacco to England, despite the fact that Spanish
conquistadors had brought tobacco to Europe around 1585.
Sir
Walter was placed in prison later in England for a period of about twelve years
when he fell out of favor with the Queen. Later, when James I became king,
Sir Walter was subsequently accused of treason, placed in prison, released, and
then executed in 1616.
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