Explorers & Adventurers · Renaissance & Early Modern
Sir Walter Raleigh’s Last Words
“Strike, man, strike!”— Sir Walter Raleigh, October 29, 1618
Who Was Sir Walter Raleigh?
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English explorer who established the first English settlement in North America on Roanoke Island. He also credited with popularizing tobacco in England.
The Final Moments
Raleigh was beheaded at Westminster. He examined the axe saying it was 'a sharp medicine, but a physician for all diseases.' He then urged the reluctant executioner to strike.
Are These Words Verified?
Multiple eyewitnesses at Old Palace Yard recorded Raleigh's gallows speech and final words. Contemporary letters and broadsheets provide consistent accounts of his courage and wit before execution.
Sources
- newspaper Contemporary broadsheets, October 1618
- firsthand Eyewitness accounts from Old Palace Yard
- firsthand Letters describing the execution
Legacy
Raleigh helped establish English colonialism in the Americas. His execution outraged English public opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Sir Walter Raleigh’s last words?
“Strike, man, strike!”
How did Sir Walter Raleigh die?
Sir Walter Raleigh died on October 29, 1618 at the age of 66. Cause of death: Execution by beheading.
Were Sir Walter Raleigh’s last words documented?
Multiple eyewitnesses at Old Palace Yard recorded Raleigh's gallows speech and final words. Contemporary letters and broadsheets provide consistent accounts of his courage and wit before execution.
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