Dare, Virginia (born 1587)

First English child born in America. She was the granddaughter of John White, the governor of Roanoke colony (now in North Carolina). White returned to England soon after her birth, leaving Dare in Roanoke with the rest of her settler family. English communication with Roanoke was cut off for nearly four years during the war with Spain 1585–88. In 1591 the crew of an English ship found the colony deserted.

The enigmatic inscription ‘Croatan’ carved in a tree led to speculation that the settlers, fearful of hostile Indians, had perhaps taken refuge with the friendly Croatan.