The Roanoke Island colony, initiated in 1585 under the command of Sir Richard Grenville, aimed to establish a foothold for England in the New World. The settlement, often described as England's first attempt at colonization in North America, faced immediate challenges including harsh weather conditions, limited supplies, and difficulties in establishing peaceful relations with Indigenous peoples. The colonists struggled with food shortages, and as tensions with local tribes grew, the situation became increasingly dire.

In the spring of 1586, when Sir Francis Drake arrived in the area, the colonists were faced with a choice. Drake, fresh from a successful plundering campaign against Spanish settlements in the Caribbean, offered to transport the beleaguered settlers back to England or aid them in their colonization efforts. The decision to abandon the colony was made easier by the realization that their attempts were not yielding the expected results. By June of the same year, the last of the colonists left Roanoke Island, thus ending the first attempt at permanent settlement.

This event highlighted the difficulties of establishing enduring settlements in the New World and foreshadowed the challenges that would continue for English colonists in subsequent decades. The failed colony became a topic of intrigue, particularly the later mystery of the Lost Colony, which would capture imaginations well into the future. The initial abandonment of Roanoke Island set a precedent for the complex relationship between European settlers and Indigenous populations, influencing later colonial policies and strategies.