Newport, Christopher, approximately 1565-1617

Christopher Newport (b. 1561 – d. 1617) was an English seaman and privateer. During the war with Spain Newport was one of the most successful 'Elizabethan Sea Dogs' to venture to the Spanish Main, making large profits. Newport is best known as the captain of the Susan Constant, the largest of three ships which carried settlers for the Virginia Company in 1607 on the way to found the settlement at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony, which became the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was also in overall command of the other two ships on that initial voyage, in order of their size, the Godspeed and the Discovery. He made several voyages of supply between England and Jamestown; in 1609, he became Captain of the Virginia Company's new flagship, Sea Venture, which met a hurricane during the Third Supply mission and was shipwrecked on the archipelago of Bermuda. Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, was named in his honour.