Colonist, born in Westmoreland, England; died in Virginia about 1676. He came from a distinguished family, and was appointed, under the London Company, surveyor of the Virginia plantations. In October 1621, he arrived in Jamestown, and located in James City. Soon afterward he acquired an estate amounting to 45,000 acres. On March 24, 1625, he became secretary of state for the colony, and on March 13, 1628, was commissioned by the governor to make discoveries southward and open trade with the Indians. He settled the Isle of Kent, where he established a trading-post, bought out the interest of all the natives in that island, and induced many settlers to locate on his lands. When Lord Baltimore’s first colony arrived at St. Marie’s, in March 1634, they claimed control over the Isle of Kent and all its settlers. The dispute was continued between the two parties for many years, until Virginia, in 1776, released all claims to the territory of Maryland beyond the Potomac River. When Lord Baltimore’s colony had been founded on St. Marie’s River, trouble began between them and the party of Claiborne, and in course of time the latter’s settlement on the Isle of Kent became a failure. Claiborne by that time had become involved in serious difficulties, and in 1637 sailed for England. When the Cromwellian revolution began to make headway in Great Britain, both Maryland and Virginia declared their loyalty to the royal government; but Claiborne saw fit to join the Parliamentary party, and on September 26, 1651, with others, was appointed a commissioner by Parliament to reduce Virginia and the plantations on Chesapeake Bay. An English expedition arrived in Virginia in March 1652, overthrew the government of the Cavaliers and established a Roundhead one, with Claiborne as secretary of state.
