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attended Oxford University in 1554 and served in the English Parliament in late 1550s and early 1560s
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By 1563 Lane was serving in Queen Elizabeth I’s court, marking the beginning of a career of service to queen and country.
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By the early 1570s, Lane had involved himself in maritime affairs which included a queen’s commission to seize ships in 1571.
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In 1583, Lane received a commission to go to Ireland and direct the construction of forts.
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the queen recalled Lane from Ireland and he was given command of the colony that Sir Walter Raleigh was organizing to sail to Virginia (Roanoke Island). Raleigh evidently personally invited Lane to command the land expedition.
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1585, seven ships with about 600 men under the overall command of Sir Richard Grenville left England.
