Francis Drake
1540–1596 |
Sir Francis Drake is possibly the most illustrious pirate in world history. Adored for his innumerable exploits and legendary feats of daring-do in England, he was the arch-nemesis of the Spanish under Philip II, and more responsible than any other individual for the decline of Spanish naval power during the late sixteenth century. He was an Admiral in the English navy and second in command during the Great Armada, but most of his career was spent robbing, pillaging and wreaking havoc on Spanish war fleets, Spanish merchant fleets, and Spanish colonies in the new world.
Drake was born into a sea-faring family in a coastal town, and went aboard ship at an early age. He was still a young man when he accompanied his cousin, Sir John Hawkins on a trading/slaving/pirating expedition to the new world. On his third voyage with Hawkins, the fleet was attacked by the Spanish and Drake and Hawkins scarcely escaped with their lives. Drake spent much of the next ten year plundering and robbing Spanish colonies and merchant fleets in revenge for this abuse, and during this period had numerous terrific adventures. On several of his forays into the Spanish main, he allied himself with disgruntled native tribes and attacked the treasure cargo both on land and at sea.
In 1577, having made a great name for himself, Drake was outfitted with a fleet of five ships by Queen Elizabeth in order to enable him to carry on his private war against Spain. She sought to enrich herself by sharing in his spoils, and also to use 'privateers' to wage a naval war with Spain while the countries were officially at peace. Drake did not intend to circumnavigate the globe on this trip, but he ended up being pursued down the coast of South America and doubled Cape Horn, losing most of his fleet in the process. He eventually found himself alone, with a single surviving ship, on the western coast of South America, and decided to make the best of the difficulty. The Spanish treasure ships carrying gold and silver from the mines in Peru to the isthmus of Panama had no idea they might be attacked on the Pacific, and Drake was therefore able to continue his plundering as he passed the Spanish colonies on his way North. He followed the west coast of the Americas at least as far as San Francisco, and wintered with California Indians before continuing his journey across the Pacific. When Drake returned to England in 1580, three years after starting out, in the Golden Hind he had an immense treasure and won enormous renown.
As the years passed the brewing conflict between Spain and England worsened and war between the two countries became inevitable. Rather than wait to be attacked, Drake, who had recently been knighted, led a naval raiding expedition right into the Spanish port of Cadiz and burned a fleet that was being fitted for a raid on England. He did much other damage to the Spaniards and managed to delay Spain's naval attack on England for at least a year. When the Great Armada finally sailed, Drake was second in command and led the effort to harass and exhaust the Spanish fleet, and succeeded brilliantly.
Drake continued to lead naval forays against Spain and its colonies for the rest of his life, but did not achieve any further resounding successes. Spanish treasure fleets were now heavily guarded and much harder for an audacious pirate to attack, and another expedition, outfitted by Elizabeth to capture Lisbon was not successful. The important colonies in the new world were also more heavily fortified than they had been twenty years previously, and Drake's final assault on the Island of Puerto Rico, was also repulsed. He died in 1596 on a raiding expedition and was buried at sea.
Key events during the life of Sir Francis Drake:
| Francis Drake is born | |
| Begins sea-faring as a cabin boy off. | |
| Drake's first trip to the new world under Sir John Hawkins. | |
| Barely escaped a treacherous attack by a Spanish fleet in the West Indies. | |
| Drake leads his first raiding mission to the new world. | |
| Sets off on a major pillaging expedition, outfitted by Queen Elizabeth. | |
| Drake rounds Cape Horn; all of his ships other than the Golden Hind are lost. | |
| Pillages Spanish merchant fleets off the coast of Peru. | |
| Returns to Plymouth, having completed a circumnavigation of the globe. | |
| Sails into Cadiz harbor and burns a Spanish fleet. | |
| The Spanish Armada is defeated in the English Channel. . | |
| Launches a failed expedition on the town of Lisbon. | |
| Attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, but suffers a defeat. | |
| Drake dies on a raiding expedition to the New World, and is buried at sea. |
| Book Links |
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Other Resources
Image Links | ||
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 Sir Francis Drake in Queen Elizabeth |
 Drake abord the Golden Hind in Thirty More Famous Stories Retold |
 I myself will make him a knight.' in Thirty More Famous Stories Retold |
 Drake's ship in the Pacific in Panama: Peeps at Many Lands |
 Sir Francis Drake in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Queen Elizabeth knighting Drake on board the Golden Hind at Deptford in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
 Drake Carrying to Court the News of his Voyage in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
 The Maroon Chief showing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from the tree-top in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
Sir Francis Drake in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
 Drake at Bowls on Plymouth Hoe in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
 Fighting the Great Armada in The Story of Sir Francis Drake |
 Sir Francis Drake, KT. : From the engraving by W. Holl, after F. Zucchero's picture in Boys' Book of Sea Fights |
 Drake at Cadiz in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 Drake's ships returning from Cadiz in Famous Men of Modern Times |
 At Close Quarters in Famous Men of Modern Times |
Sir Frances Drake in Back Matter |
The Admiral of the Spanish Armada Surrenders to Drake in Back Matter |
 'There is time to finish the game and beat the Spaniards too.' said Drake. in Our Island Story |
 Drake making his request of the Queen in Stories from English History |
 Sir Francis Drake in Builders of Our Country: Book I |
 On Board the Golden Hind: Queen Elizabeth in Builders of Our Country: Book I |
 Sir Francis Drake, : The first Englishman to sail round the world in A Book of Discovery |
 Queen Elizabeth knighting Drake on board the Golden Hind. in The Tudors and the Stuarts |
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| Led England through tumultuous age of reformation and discovery. Reigned 45 years. | |
| Sea-faring adventurer. Founded the first English colony in Canada. | |
| Catholic king of Spain during Netherland revolt and Anglo-Spanish Wars. Great enemy of Protestant Reformers. | |
| Walter Raleigh | Courtier of Queen Elizabeth. Explorer, mastermind of the Jamestown colony in Virginia. |
| Martin Frobisher | Explored much of Canada in seach of the Northwest Passage. Fought in the Armada. |
| John Hawkins | Second cousin of Francis Drake. Well known merchant, ship-builder and slave-trader. |