Bartholomew Gosnold
English barrister, explorer, and privateer who helped found Jamestown.
Bartholomew Gosnold (1571–1607) was an English barrister, explorer, and privateer who played a key role in founding the Virginia Company in London and the Jamestown settlement in colonial America. He led the first recorded European expedition to Cape Cod and is considered by Preservation Virginia to be the 'prime mover of the colonization of Virginia.'
- born
- 1571, Grundisburgh, Suffolk, England
- died
- 1607
- field
- Exploration, colonization, privateering
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Founding the Virginia Company and Jamestown; first European to record Cape Cod
Lore & Background
Gosnold was born in Grundisburgh, Suffolk, in 1571, the son of Anthony Gosnold and Dorothy Bacon. He graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge, studied law at the Middle Temple, and married Mary Goldinge in 1595. Through his wife, he gained connections to wealthy London merchants, including Thomas Smith, a founder of the Virginia Company. Gosnold had seven children, six baptized at Bury St Edmunds between 1597 and 1607.
In 1602, Gosnold captained the Concord from Falmouth, Cornwall, with 32 men, including John Brereton and Gabriel Archer. He pioneered a direct sailing route from the Azores to New England, making landfall at Cape Elizabeth, Maine, on 14 May 1602. He named Cape Cod for its abundant fish and explored Martha's Vineyard, naming it after his deceased daughter Martha. The expedition attempted a settlement on Cuttyhunk Island but abandoned it after strained relations with Native people led to an attack on two Englishmen.
Gosnold was instrumental in organizing the Virginia Company, raising capital from private sources despite the financial risks of colonization. He died in 1607, shortly after the founding of Jamestown.
Reader's Guide
Gosnold's significance lies in his role as a driving force behind English colonization in North America. His 1602 expedition to Cape Cod and the Elizabeth Islands demonstrated a viable northern route and provided practical experience for later ventures. He helped secure investment for the Virginia Company, which established Jamestown in 1607, the first permanent English settlement in America. Preservation Virginia calls him the 'prime mover of the colonization of Virginia,' highlighting his organizational and exploratory contributions. His marriage connected him to merchant networks essential for funding colonial projects. Though his early death in 1607 cut short his direct involvement, his efforts laid groundwork for English expansion. The article notes uncertainty about his early maritime experience but suggests he served under the Earl of Essex in 1597–98. His legacy is tied to both the naming of Cape Cod and the founding of Jamestown.
Did You Know?
- Gosnold named Cape Cod for the abundant fish found there.
- He named Martha's Vineyard after his deceased daughter Martha.
- His daughter Mary married Richard Pepys, great-uncle of diarist Samuel Pepys.
- He pioneered a direct sailing route from the Azores to New England.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bartholomew Gosnold?
He was an English barrister, privateer, and explorer born in 1571 in Grundisburgh, Suffolk, who became one of the central figures behind early English settlement in North America.
What was Bartholomew Gosnold's role in founding Jamestown?
Gosnold helped establish the Virginia Company of London, the chartered body that sponsored the 1607 Jamestown settlement. Preservation Virginia credits him as the 'prime mover' of Virginia's colonization.
What is Bartholomew Gosnold's claim to fame regarding Cape Cod?
He led the first documented European expedition to reach and record Cape Cod, making him the earliest known European to put that New England coastline on the map.
What was Bartholomew Gosnold's profession before he became an explorer?
He trained and practiced as a barrister in England and also engaged in privateering before turning his energy toward overseas exploration and colonial ventures.
When did Bartholomew Gosnold die?
He died in 1607, the same year the Jamestown colony was established, in his hometown of Grundisburgh, Suffolk, England.
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