Individual Details

Thomas was the eldest son, inheriting the title of Lord De La Warr, and his father's estate. Thomas was on the Council of The Virginia Company and in 1609 was appointed Governor and Captain General of Virginia for life. He sailed from England the following year, arriving at Jamestown just in time to intercept the colonists who had abandoned the enterprise and were embarking for home. The State of Delaware, the River & Bay of the same name, were named in his honor. In 1611, he returned to England and Thomas and the Lady De La Warr presented the Indian Princess Pocahontas at the Court of King James I of England. Thomas embarked again for Jamestown, but died enroute and was buried at sea.

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05.
De la Warr, Thomas West, 12th Baron, 1577–1618, English colonial governor of Virginia. He saw fighting in the Netherlands and was knighted when serving in Ireland. He succeeded to the peerage in 1602. In 1609 he was appointed first governor of Virginia (Sir Thomas Gates governed as deputy until De la Warr arrived). He sailed in Apr., 1610, with an expedition including Sir Samuel Argall . On his arrival at Jamestown he found the settlers in such dire need that they were ready to return to England. He encouraged them to remain, sent Argall for supplies, and had forts built. Argall, on his voyage, sailed into the bay later called (after the governor) Delaware Bay. Lord De la Warr returned to England, and the colony was governed by Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas Dale. De la Warr in his Relation … of the Colonies Planted in Virginia (1611) pleaded for the colony. He died during his second voyage to Virginia.

Birth	9 Jun 1577	Wherwell, Hampshire, England
Death	Jun 1618	At Sea

Father	Sir Thomas West (1535 - 1602)
Mother	Anne Knollys (1556 - )
Sibling	Francis WEST (1586 - 1634)
Sibling	Col. John West (1590 - 1659)
Sibling	Capt. Nathaniel WEST (1592 - 1623)