Sir Humphrey Gilbert, an English navigator, half brother of Sir Walter Raleigh, born at Dartmouth in 1539, lost at sea about the end of 1583. He was educated at Eton and Oxford, followed the military profession, and was knighted in 1570 for his services in Ireland. Being interested in geographical discovery, both from love of fame and of adventure, he sailed in 1583 with five vessels and 260 men, prepared to take possession of the northern parts of America, and founded a colony in Newfoundland, which, however, did not prove permanent. On the return his vessel, of only 10 tons burden, foundered, and all perished. He published a book in 1576,A Discourse of a Discovery for a new Passage to Cathay," to prove the possibility of a N. W. passage.