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Drake, Francis
ca. 1540–1596
English explorer

An explorer, pirate, and military leader, Francis Drake earned fame as the first Englishman to sail around the globe. His raids on Spanish ships in the Americas brought gold and silver to England. He also played a key role in defending his country against the attack of Spain's great fleet of ships, the ARMADA.

Drake learned how to sail in his youth as an apprentice on a small coastal trade ship. In 1567 he accompanied John Hawkins, a prominent sea captain, on an ill-fated expedition to the Caribbean. Much of Hawkins's fleet was destroyed by the Spanish, but Drake returned home safely. In the following years he made three more trips to the Caribbean.

In 1577 an expedition aboard his ship the Golden Hind took him around the world—though that was not his original plan. On that voyage Drake explored the coast of California, which he claimed for England, and searched for the Northwest Passage. Failing to find that much-desired sea route across North America, he then headed west across the Pacific Ocean. By 1580 he had rounded the tip of Africa and returned to England. Drake became the first Englishman and second navigator of any nationality to sail around the world. On arrival in England, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

During the 1580s Drake took part in actions against Spain. He led a fleet into the Spanish port of Cádiz, which the Spanish surrendered to him. During the fighting Drake burned many Spanish ships, a fact that delayed Spain's planned naval attack against England. When the Armada finally set sail for England in 1588, Drake played a leading role in defeating the fleet. The following year, Drake returned to Spain and destroyed much Spanish shipping.

(See also Americas; England; Exploration.)

* apprentice

person bound by legal agreement to work for another for a specified period of time in return for instruction in a trade or craft