Astronomer, historian, and friend of
Sir Walter Raleigh; born in
Oxford, England, in 1560.
In 1585 he accompanied
Raleigh's expedition to
Virginia, under
Grenville, as historian, and most of the knowledge of that expedition is derived from
Harriott's account.
He was left there by
Grenville, and remained a year, making observations; and from the pencil of With, an artist, he obtained many useful drawings.
Harriott labored hard to restrain the cupidity of his companions, who were more intent upon finding gold than tilling the soil.
While
Governor Lane declared that
Virginia had “the goodliest soil under the cope of heaven,” and “if
Virginia had but horses and kine, and were inhabited by
English, no realm in Christendom were comparable to it,” he utterly neglected the great opportunity.
Harriott
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saw that the way to accomplish that object was to treat the Indians kindly, as friends and neighbors; and he tried to quench the fires of revenge which the cruelty of the
English had kindled.
The natives were curious and credulous.
They regarded the
English with awe. Their firearms, burning-glasses, clocks, watches, and books seemed to the savage mind like the work of the gods.
As the colonists were never sick, and had no women with them, the natives thought that they were not born of women, and were, therefore, immortal.
Taking advantage of this feeling
Harriott displayed the
Bible everywhere, and told them of its precious truths, and it was often pressed to their bosoms affectionately.
When King Wingina fell ill, he sent for
Harriott, and, dismissing his juggling priest and “medicine-man,” placed himself under the
Englishman's care.
He invoked the prayers of the
English, and, under the careful nursing of the historian, the king speedily recovered.
Many of his subjects resorted to
Harriott when they fell sick.
Had his example been followed,
Virginia might soon have been “inhabited by
English,” and filled with “horses and kine.”
On his return to
England,
Harriott published a
Brief and true report of the New found land of Virginia.
From the
Earl of
Northumberland he received a pension, and spent much of his time in the Tower with
Raleigh and his wife.
Harriott was the inventor of the present improved method of algebraic calculation by introducing the signs > and <. He died in
London, July 2, 1621.
