Abstract:
Simon Ferdinando was arrested in 1578 and tried for piracy. Later that year he was taken from prison, and, because of his superb nautical talents, was employed to accompany Sir Humphrey Gilbert on the first voyage to exploit America for England. In 1580, Ferdinando explored the coastline of North America and guided colonial expeditions, some to the North Carolina coast. What is now Oregon Inlet used to be named “Port Ferdinando.†Ferdinando became master and pilot of the ship which carried Sir Walter Raleigh's agents to Carolina and back. When he grew too old to go to sea he became an advisor to the newly chartered East India Company.