Sir Richard Grenville (alternately spelt Greynvile, amongst others) (June 6, 1542 - September 1591) was an Elizabethan sailor, explorer, and soldier. He was born and brought up at Buckland Abbey in Devon.

Cousin of Sir Walter Raleigh. Contemporary of Sir Francis Drake and Thomas Cavendish. Founded Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina.

In 1585, before there was any permanent English Settlement in Virginia, Grenville landed there with seven ships. The natives he encountered were hospitable. When one of the natives stole a small silver cup, Grenville sacked and burned the whole native village.

Was originally preparing to circumnavigate the globe in the late 1570's, but Queen Elizabeth gave the honour to Drake instead. Grenville died in 1591 in the Azores while on a sailing expedition.

One of the four houses of British public school Churcher's College is named for Grenville.

References

• A. L. Rowse, Sir Richard Grenville of the Revenge, (London: Jonathan Cape, 1937)