(1539-1583), an English navigator and explorer. He was a man of liberal education and attained distinction in the English army during several campaigns. He became interested in the search for a route to India and in 1578 received a commission from Queen Elizabeth to conduct an expedition. His first adventure met with mishap, but after a few years a second expedition, in which both Raleigh and Gilbert were interested and which was under Gilbert's personal command, sailed for America. He planted a colony near Saint Johns, Newfoundland, but it proved a failure, and after a few weeks Gilbert set out for England. He encountered a storm and was never heard from again.