Ralph Lane

Sir Ralph Lane
Born	c.1532
Died	October 1603
Burial place	Dublin
Nationality	English
Occupation	explorer

Sir Ralph Lane (c. 1532 – October 1603) was an English explorer of the Elizabethan era. He was part of the unsuccessful attempt in 1585 to colonise Roanoke Island, North Carolina. He also served the Crown in Ireland and was knighted by the Queen in 1593.

Ralph's origins have not been proven. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, he was "of unknown parentage and education".

It has been theorised that his parents were Sir Ralph Lane of Orlingbury, Hogshaw and Horton, and Maud Parr, a cousin of Catherine Parr, the last queen consort of Henry VIII. However, no evidence has been found to prove this (for further information please refer to ).

The Dictionary of National Biography, published in 1909, states he "may probably be identified with Ralph, the second son of Sir Ralph Lane (d.1541) of Horton, Northamptonshire, by Maud daughter and coheiress of William Lord Parr of Horton and cousin of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last queen. (Collins 1768 iii 164) His seal bore the arms of Lane of Horton (Cal State Papers Ireland 15 March 1598–9), and the arms assigned him by Burke quarter these with those of Maud Parr (General Armoury). In his correspondence, he speaks of nephews William and Robert Lane (Cal State Papers Ireland 26 Dec 1592, 7 June 1595), of a kinsman John Durrant (ib) and is associated with a Mr Feilding (ib 23 June 1593), all of whom appear in the Lane pedigree (Blore Hist. and Antig. of Rutlandshire p 169). William Feilding married Dorothy Lane, a daughter of Sir Ralph Lane of Horton, and John Durrant was the husband of Catherine, her first cousin."

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