In our new series on Famous English Travellers, we will present to you some important English personalities from the past who have made a crucial contribution to our knowledge by their travels. We hope you will enjoy our small history excursion!
Sir Francis Drake
The first Englishman who circumnavigated the world
Dates:
Born Feb 1540 in Tavistock, Devon
Died 27 Jan 1596
Jobs:
Vice Admiral, Sea Captain, Navigator, Politician
Honours:
Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake knighthood in 1581 upon his return from the expedition against the Spanish, which Elizabeth I of England had commissioned.
Queen Elizabeth With Sir Francis Drake And knights On The Deck Of The Golden Hind by Jean Leon Huens
Special Achievements:
Became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1577-1580)
Travels:
- 1563 – Drake travelled to Africa and sold people in Sierra Leona as slaves to Spanish settlers in the Caribbean
- 1567 – Successfully attacked Spanish ships
- 1572 – Seized gold and silver in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean
- Drake also travelled to the West Indies, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, California, Java, through the Indian Ocean and around the Cape of Good Hope.
- Upon his return of the circumnavigation of the world, Drake became mayor of Plymouth and was a Member of Parliament.
Cultural Impact:
- Drakes Bay and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard of Marin County, California are both named after him.
- In Devon, there are various places after him, especially in Plymouth, where a roundabout has been named Drake Circus.
