born Aug. 18, 1587, Roanoke Island, Va.
First child born to English parents in America.
Her parents were among the 120 settlers who landed at Roanoke Island , Va., in 1587. Her grandfather, John White , was the colony's governor; he left to collect supplies in England nine days after her birth. A relief expedition that finally reached the colony in 1590 found only the word croatoan carved on a post; the infant Virginia had vanished along with all the other colonists.