Sir Walter Ralegh was a notable English adventurer, poet, politician, and writer who lived during the Tudor period. Synonyms for Ralegh include Sir Walter Raleigh, Walter Raleigh, and Sir Walter Ralegh. Ralegh is best known for his expeditions to the New World, his role in the English colonization of North America, and his influence on Elizabethan literature. Some of his most famous works include The Discoverie of the Large, Rich, and Bewtiful Empyre of Guiana, The History of the World, and The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd. Although he was ultimately executed by King James I, Ralegh's legacy as a pioneer and literary figure endures to this day.