A courtier by heart, an explorer by passion, an aristocrat and author by work and a soldier by spirit, Sir Walter Raleigh donned many hats in his lifetime. Born in a Protestant family, he completed his education from Oxford College and later on rose up to be part of the Hugenot army in France. He played an active role in the suppression of rebellions in the Siege of Smerwick and was offered the status of a landlord, after the land confiscated by the native Irish was transferred to him. It was during the Elizabethan era that he bloomed and prospered, rapidly rising up the ranks due to the favour of Queen Elizabeth I. In 1585 he was knighted and appointed warden of the mines of Cornwall and Devon. He also played a crucial role in the English colonization of North America. It was in 1594 that he set sail to hunt for the ‘City of Gold’. After his year-long expedition, he penned his experiences in a book which contributed to the legend, ‘El Dorado’. It was after the death of Queen Elizabeth I that he was imprisoned on charges of treason and executed. However, notwithstanding his unnecessary and unjust death, he was and is still considered as the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era. In fact, he was included in the list of 100 Greatest Britons in the BBC poll of 2002.