As early as 1567 Sir Humphrey Gilbert petitioned the Queen for colonial development in America, but was unable to obtain approval until 1578. Sir Humphrey's first attempt failed and it was not until June 11, 1583 that he was able outfit a fleet of 5 ships. One day out, one of the ships turned home, apparently harboring some contagious disease. On August 3, Sir Humphrey arrived at St. John's, New Found Land. The Swallow was sent home with sick men aboard and The Delight went ashore and was lost with most of its crew. The two last vessels, the 40-ton Golden Hinde and the 8-ton Squirrel, (the Gilbert family crest was a squirrel), made it safely to the longitude of the Azores before they encountered heavy weather where the Squirrel was lost. Only the Golden Hinde made it home to England. On March 25, 1584, Queen Elizabeth renewed Sir Humphrey's charter in the name of his half-brother Sir Walter Raleigh. In August 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh constructed Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island, (North Carolina) naming the territory Virginia in honor of the Queen. This event marked the birth of English speaking America, 22 years before Jamestown and 35 years before the Pilgrims stepped ashore at Plymouth Rock.