James Alday A 16th-century English navigator, explorer and privateer. Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Exploration
2. Voyages to the Barbary Coast
3. Frobisher's Expedition
4. Expedition to Greenland

Early Life and Exploration

James Alday, an English mariner of the 16th century, was born in Dartmouth. He pursued a maritime career, initially as a shipmaster and later as a privateer. In the 1540s, he participated in raids against Spanish vessels alongside James Logan and William Cooke.

Voyages to the Barbary Coast

Alday was influenced by Sebastian Cabot, who may have sparked his interest in trade with Berber settlements along the African coast. According to his accounts, Alday planned an expedition to the Barbary Coast, but he fell severely ill with the sweating sickness. Unable to command the expedition himself, he relinquished it to another captain. There is some doubt about whether Alday actually embarked on this voyage, as no records exist of its departure or return.

In a letter to Michael Locke, Alday lamented his misfortune, stating that he had survived the sweating sickness while some of his companions and crew members had perished. Thomas Wyndham successfully reached the Barbary Coast that year, and Alday's letter expressed regret that his rival had seized the opportunity he had lost.

Frobisher's Expedition

In 1576, Alday was among the sailors hired by Martin Frobisher for an expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. He was prepared to risk his life in pursuit of reaching the edge of the world. However, his name is not listed among the sailors who were to be paid upon their return.

Expedition to Greenland

In 1579, Alday was appointed to command an expedition to Greenland under the patronage of King Frederick II. Frobisher had originally set out for Greenland with two ships, but one had to return due to severe storms. As it required repairs, another vessel was dispatched.

The primary goal of the expedition was to reclaim an English colony in Greenland and convert the inhabitants to Anglicanism. However, due to heavy pack ice, the ships were unable to reach the Greenland coast. None of the expedition members survived.