John White is an English explorer and artist who is best known for his role in the colonization of the New World. He was born in 1540 in London, England and was the son of a wealthy merchant. White was educated at Oxford University and became a member of the Royal Navy in 1560. He served in the navy for several years before being appointed as the governor of the newly established Roanoke Colony in 1587.
White was chosen to lead the expedition to the New World due to his experience in the navy and his knowledge of the area. He was also chosen because of his strong religious beliefs, which were important to the English settlers. White was accompanied by a group of about 115 settlers, including his daughter Eleanor and her husband Ananias Dare. The group arrived in the New World in July 1587 and established the Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, off the coast of what is now North Carolina.
White was the first governor of the colony and was responsible for its success. He was a strong leader and was able to keep the settlers safe from the Native Americans who lived in the area. He also encouraged the settlers to explore the surrounding area and to establish trade with the local tribes. White was able to establish a good relationship with the Native Americans and was able to obtain food and supplies from them.
Unfortunately, White was forced to return to England in 1590 due to a supply shortage. He left behind his daughter and her husband, as well as the other settlers. When he returned to the colony in 1591, he found that the settlement had been abandoned and the settlers had disappeared. This became known as the “Lost Colony” and has been a mystery ever since.
White continued to explore the New World and was the first Englishman to map the coast of North Carolina. He also explored the Chesapeake Bay and the Outer Banks. He returned to England in 1593 and was appointed as the governor of the new colony of Virginia in 1606. He was responsible for the establishment of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World.
White died in 1606 and is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of the New World. He was a brave explorer and a strong leader who helped to establish the first English colonies in the New World. His legacy lives on in the many places he explored and the settlements he helped to establish.