Walter Raleigh was an English writer, poet, and explorer best known for establishing the first English colony in North America at Roanoke Island. He experienced religious persecution as a Protestant during the reign of Catholic Queen Mary I. Raleigh oversaw the slaughter of 700 Italian soldiers after they surrendered at the Siege of Smerwick. He received land in Ireland but had limited success inducing English settlers. Raleigh unsuccessfully attempted to establish a self-sustaining colony in Virginia. He was knighted in 1585 but later executed in 1618 for treason after a controversial trial.