Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake was born in Tavistock, Devon around the year 1540 and went to sea at an early age. In 1567, Drake made one of the first English slaving expeditions as part of a fleet led by his cousin John Hawkins, bringing African slaves to America. All but two ships of this expedition were lost when they were attacked by a Spanish squadron. After that attack, the Spanish became a lifelong enemy for Drake and they also considered him a pirate.
In 1570 and 1571, Drake made two moneymaking trading journeys to the West Indies. In 1572, he commanded two ships in a raiding expedition against Spanish ports in the Caribbean. He saw the Pacific Ocean and captured the port of Nombre de Dios on the Coast of Panama. He returned to England with his cargo of Spanish treasure and a reputation as an excellent privateer.
In 1577, Drake was secretly ordered by Queen Elizabeth I to set off on a voyage against the Spanish colonies on the American Pacific coast. He sailed with five ships, but by the time he reached the Pacific Ocean, in October 1578, only one was left - Drake's flagship the Pelican, which was renamed the Golden Hind (his most famous ship). Drake became the first Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan (south of mainland South America).
He travelled up the west coast of South America, raiding Spanish ports. He kept going north, hoping to find a route across to the Atlantic, and sailed further up the west coast of America than any European sailor ever had. Unable to find a passage, he turned southwards. In July 1579, he then went west across the Pacific. His travels took him to the Moluccas (Indonesia), Celebes (Sulawesi, Indonesia), Java (Indonesia) and round the Cape of Good Hope (South of Africa). He arrived back in England in September 1580 with a rich cargo of spices, Spanish treasure and the distinction of being the first Englishman to circle the globe. Seven months later, in April, Queen Elizabeth I knighted him aboard the Golden Hind.
In 1585,
In 1570 and 1571, Drake made two moneymaking trading journeys to the West Indies. In 1572, he commanded two ships in a raiding expedition against Spanish ports in the Caribbean. He saw the Pacific Ocean and captured the port of Nombre de Dios on the Coast of Panama. He returned to England with his cargo of Spanish treasure and a reputation as an excellent privateer.
In 1577, Drake was secretly ordered by Queen Elizabeth I to set off on a voyage against the Spanish colonies on the American Pacific coast. He sailed with five ships, but by the time he reached the Pacific Ocean, in October 1578, only one was left - Drake's flagship the Pelican, which was renamed the Golden Hind (his most famous ship). Drake became the first Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan (south of mainland South America).
He travelled up the west coast of South America, raiding Spanish ports. He kept going north, hoping to find a route across to the Atlantic, and sailed further up the west coast of America than any European sailor ever had. Unable to find a passage, he turned southwards. In July 1579, he then went west across the Pacific. His travels took him to the Moluccas (Indonesia), Celebes (Sulawesi, Indonesia), Java (Indonesia) and round the Cape of Good Hope (South of Africa). He arrived back in England in September 1580 with a rich cargo of spices, Spanish treasure and the distinction of being the first Englishman to circle the globe. Seven months later, in April, Queen Elizabeth I knighted him aboard the Golden Hind.
In 1585,