in April of 1585 Sir Walter Raleigh undel the authority of QueenElizabeth of English sent an expedition of seven ships carrying 600 men half of them soldiers to found an english colony in North Armerica The colony was to be used to establish an English presence in the New World as well as a base from which English privateers or pirates could attack and phunder Spanish treasure fleets Raleigh's cousin Sir Richard Grenville led the expedition