George Percy facts for kids

George Percy

George Percy (born September 4, 1580 – died 1632) was an English explorer and writer. He also served as an early leader, or Governor, of the Virginia Colony in America.

Early Life in England

George Percy was born in England. He was the youngest son of a nobleman, Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland. George was often sick during his life. He might have had conditions like epilepsy or severe asthma.

He went to Oxford University and graduated in 1597. While there, he studied at Gloucester Hall. He also joined a legal society called the Middle Temple.

George Percy chose a career in the military. He first served as a soldier in the early 1600s. This was during the Dutch fight for independence from Spain. He also served as a soldier in Ireland.

Life in the Virginia Colony

George Percy was part of the first group of 105 English colonists. They traveled to settle the Jamestown Colony in America. He left England in December 1606. He wrote a journal about his long sea journey.

He arrived in Virginia in April 1607. Percy wrote about the many challenges the colonists faced. They struggled with the new American environment and diseases. They also had difficulties with the Powhatan Native Americans. He wrote, "Thus we lived for the space of five months in this miserable distress." He added that they barely had five healthy men to defend their fort.

Even though Percy had a high social rank, he was not immediately given a seat on the Virginia Council. However, he played an important role early on. He joined an expedition to the James River falls in May and June 1607.

In late 1607, Percy supported the colony's President, Edward Maria Wingfield. But Wingfield was later removed from his position. This was done by John Ratcliffe, Gabriel Archer, and Captain John Smith. From late 1607 until late 1609, Percy had less power in Jamestown. He served under Captain John Smith.

Percy as Colony President

When Captain Smith left the colony in September 1609, George Percy became the President. But his ongoing illness made it hard for him to do his job fully. So, Ratcliffe, Archer, and John Martin handled many of the duties.

During Percy's time as President, the colony went through a terrible period. This was known as the "Starving Time" in the winter of 1609–10. Percy later recalled, "Now all of us at James Town beginning to feel that sharp prick of hunger." He said no one could truly describe it unless they had experienced its bitterness.

Percy did not achieve much as President. One thing he did was order the building of Fort Algernon. This fort was located at Old Point Comfort. When Sir Thomas Gates arrived in May 1610, Percy was happy to give control of the colony to him.

Later Role and Departure

In June 1610, Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr arrived in Jamestown. He was sent to be the colony's new governor. De La Warr appointed Percy to the council. He also made him captain of the Jamestown fort.

In August 1610, Governor De La Warr sent Percy and seventy men to attack the Paspahegh and Chickahominy Native American tribes. Percy's force destroyed their villages. They burned buildings, ruined crops, and killed many people. Percy also successfully defended the Jamestown fort from a Native American attack. Governor De La Warr praised him for this.

When the Governor returned to England in March 1611, he chose Percy to lead the colony in his absence. Percy's term as Governor lasted until April 22, 1612. After this, he sailed back to England.

After Virginia

After his time as Governor of the Virginia colony, Percy went back to England. But he remained interested in new colonization plans. In 1615, he suggested an expedition to Guiana in South America. However, he could not find anyone to support his idea.

In 1620, he sold his shares in the Virginia Company. He then returned to military service. Percy went back to the Netherlands in 1621. This was when war between Spain and the Dutch began again. He was a commander of a military company in the Low Countries in 1627. George Percy died in 1632.

Family Life

George Percy married a woman named Anne Floyd.

They had one daughter, Anne Percy. She later married Governor John West.

Sources

• Jeffrey D. Groves, "George Percy," in American National Biography, ed. John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 17:318–19.
• John W. Shirley, "George Percy at Jamestown, 1607–1612," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 57 (1949): 227–43.
• Philip L. Barbour, "The Honorable George Percy, Premier Chronicler of the First Virginia Voyage," Early American Literature 6 (1971): 7–17.
• Brenan, Gerald (1902). A History of the House of Percy, from the Earliest Times Down to the Present. London: Freemantle. pp. 208–9. https://archive.org/details/ahistoryhousepe01lindgoog.