John White (surveyor)

John White (c.1537 - after 1593) was Sir Walter Raleigh's surveyor-general on his first voyage to the New World (he made a lot of sketches of what they found, including this one of the Indians). Later he became governor of the new Roanoke Colony, and the first baby born there was his granddaughter, Virginia Dare. When the colony ran low on supplies, White returned to England for provisions. He was delayed there by the Spanish Armada, and when he at last returned to his colony in August of 1590, he found it deserted. After vainly searching the adjacent islands for the colonists, he arrived in Plymouth October 24 of that year.

Little is known of his life after the failure of this colony. He is last mentioned in 1593, although when Bridgit White was appointed administratix of the estate of her late brother John White after his death, it may be this John White who died in May 1606.