GILBERT, Sir Humphrey, English navigator, born in Dartmouth, England, in 1539; lost at sea, 10 September, 1584. He was a half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. After studying at Eton and Oxford, he chose the military profession, fought in the north of England and Scotland against the Roman Catholics, and was given command of an army sent to subjugate the Irish. For his successful conduct of the campaign he was knighted and made governor of Munster in 1570. Soon after his return to England he commanded a fleet that was sent to blockade Flushing. On his return he published a pamphlet entitled "A Discourse of Discovery for a New Passage to Cataia." He was one of the most ardent advocates of the theory of a northwest passage, and after aiding Frobisher and other mariners with his fortune and influence, determined to become an explorer himself. He obtained letters-patent from Queen Elizabeth, authorizing him to make discoveries during six years in all barbarous countries not in the possession of Christians, and to occupy and dispose of them in favor of English subjects under the crown. His first expedition was undertaken in 1581, but a tern-pest destroyed one of his vessels, and compelled the admiral to return to port with the others, which were badly damaged. He mortgaged his estate to raise money for a new expedition, which started on 11 June, 1583, for Newfoundland. It consisted of two decked vessels and three sloops, manned by 260 men. Walter Raleigh, who commanded the largest ship, became alarmed at the amount of sickness on board, and on the third day put back for England. Gilbert arrived at the coast of Newfoundland after several narrow escapes from storms and icebergs. He landed at St. John, and, despite the presence of thirty-six vessels of various nationalities, took possession of the country in the name of his sovereign. He expelled the Portuguese, who had settled on the island, and published statutes providing that the religion of the country should follow the English rite, that whoever rebelled against the sovereignty of the queen should be punishable with death as a traitor, and that any person who spoke disrespectfully of the queen should have his ears cut off and his land or vessels confiscated. His colony turned out disastrously. A large number of sailors deserted, others fell sick, and finally Gilbert set sail for Norumbega afterward called New England. A tempest dispersed the flotilla, and the principal vessel foundered. Sir Humphrey's vessel went down in a storm off the Azores while on the course to England. Rob-err Clarke returned to Newfoundland alive, after great sufferings.