So if you watched the US presidential debate last night, you would have heard one of the candidates make mention that the Iran arms deal is the “worst in history”. This got me thinking. No matter what your political persuasion, I think we can all agree this is hyperbole. All of history is a very, […]
Tag: Exploration
Puritans, Separatists and the Pilgrim Fathers
Americas, England, Northern Europe, Phoebe, United States
So we all know the story… bunch of Puritans, bit of religious persecution and New England was born. Right? Wrong. OK, lets unpick this bit of history and see what happens. Firstly, we have to remember that the Pilgrim Fathers weren’t the first settlers in the new found lands of America. Some conveniently overlook that […]
William Bradford and the Mayflower
Americas, England, Northern Europe, Phoebe, United States
Born in around 1590, to wealthy farmers Alice and William Bradford, William lost his father at just a year old. His mother remarried when he was four and he was sent to live with his grandparents. When his grandfather died just two years later, he returned to his mother and step-father only for her to […]
Sir Walter Raleigh and the Lost Colony
Sir Walter Raleigh was riding high as a favorite of Elizabeth I. He had come to court and smitten the queen with his admiration. He had first gone to Ireland in 1580 to suppress a rebellion in Munster, and at that time came to the attention of the queen. She showered him with estates in […]
The Darien Scheme
Americas, Central America, ER, Northern Europe, Scotland
Scottish settlement in America brings to mind Nova Scotia or any of the original thirteen colonies. There was one Scottish settlement which is much less known, but is just as important if not more so. Since the crowns of England and Scotland had been united under James I, the fortunes of the two countries were […]