Robert Hayman
Robert Hayman was an English poet and colonial governor, born in Devonshire in 1575. He studied at Exeter College, Oxford, graduating in 1596, and later pursued further studies in France until 1600. In 1604, he married Grace Spicer and became involved with the Society of Merchant Venturers in 1618, which led to the establishment of the colony Bristol's Hope on Newfoundland. Hayman was elected governor of the colony, although he only spent a brief fifteen months there before returning to England, visiting occasionally thereafter. He gained recognition as Newfoundland's first poet with the publication of his work, *Quodlibets, Lately Come over from New Britaniola, Old-Newfound-Land*, which reflected his experiences in the colony. Hayman's exploration of the Amazon in 1628 marked a significant departure, but he tragically did not return, passing away from fever in Guiana in 1629. His contributions to early colonial literature and governance are notable in the context of Newfoundland's history.
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Robert Hayman
Writer
- Born: August 14, 1575
- Birthplace: Devonshire, England
- Died: November 1, 1629
- Place of death: Guiana
Biography
Robert Hayman was born in Devonshire, England, in 1575. He spent his youth in Devon with his family. In 1590, he was accepted and admitted to Exeter College, located in Oxford, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1596. Promptly after earning the degree, Hayman went to France to continue his studies at Poitiers until 1600. In 1604, Hayman married a woman by the name of Grace Spicer.
In 1618, Hayman became a member of an organization called the Society of Merchant Venturers. That year, the society was given a land grant by the king and allowed to start a colony named Bristol’s Hope on the island of Newfoundland. That same year, Hayman was elected governor of the colony. Although he was the governor, Hayman only remained at the colony for the span of fifteen months before returning to England. In the years to follow, Hayman would visit the thriving colony, yet he would not spend any extended period of time there.
Hayman held this position until 1628. It is unknown who, if anybody,assumed the position of governor when Hayman left. That same year Hayman became known as Newfoundland’s first poet when he published Quodlibets, Lately Come over from New Britaniola, Old-Newfound-Land. In the poems, Hayman wrote about his life and experiences in Newfoundland and in Bristol’s Hope. The poems were well received.
In 1628, Hayman also left England to explore the Amazon. Hayman did not return home from his expedition. In 1629, Hayman died of a fever in Guiana.