Gorges, Sir Ferdinando

c.1566-1647. Wealthy British nobleman and governor of Plymouth, a main sponsor of a number of exploring expeditions and colonization attempts in New England, having been granted major lands. His interest was kindled by taking in to his house the three natives captured by George Waymouth in 1605. One of the investors in the colony at Popham Beach, which failed in 1608, he hired John Smith to explore the New England coast in 1614 and sent out further colonies and expeditions. He founded the Council of New England, and at one time, was the lord-proprietary of the province of Maine.