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Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake was a successful English seafarer who build his career as an explorer, privateer, slave trader, and politician. He is most famous for circumnavigating the globe and the victory against the Spanish Armada of King Philip II. Get to know more about Sir Francis Drake in these 10 most fascinating truths about his life and career.
1. Francis Drake Never had a birthday
Francis Drake photo by Henry Bone-Wikimedia
Drake was the first child of Edmund Drake, a farmer, and preacher. His mother was Mary Mylwaye. Drake had 11 siblings and was born in Tavistock, Devon, England. His date of birth is uncertain and estimated by historians to be between the years 1540 to 1544.
Lady Elliott-Drake was the collateral descendant and final holder of the Drake Baronetcy. In her book, she concluded that Drake was born in the year 1541. Lady Elliott also records Drake’s heirs and family.
2. Drake’s family fled their home following religious persecutions
Francis Drake and his family were forced out of their Devon home and fled to Kent. This was a result of the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion- also known as the Western Rising. The rebellion was in Cornwall and Devon(Darek’s hometown). They revolted against a common prayer book. The book presented the reformation of English theology and was introduced in the year 1549.
In Kent, Edmund Drake (Drake’s father) was appointed to minister to the King’s Navy men. At the Medway church, Upnor, Edmund started serving as a deacon and later became the vicar.
3. The father of Francis Drake sparked his interest in seafaring
When Drake was about 18 years old, his father introduced young Drake to his neighbor. He owned a barque that transported merchandise to France. Francis Drake showed excellent conduct to the extent, that he was bequeathed the ship. This happened when its master died as he had no heir(remained unmarried and childless).
Francis moved to live with William Hawkins of Plymouth in his early years and the reason behind the move is unclear. There are speculations that Drake was illegitimate although there are no cited facts around the matter. At the Hawkins, Francis mastered his skills in slave trading, pirating, and explorations.
Drake participated in several voyages as part of the Hawkins ship’s crew between the years 1560 to 1568. They discovered that the West African trade was monopolized by the Portuguese.
The Hawkins plundered gold, ivory, and spices during a visit to Guinea. They went on a second voyage in 1563 and Hawkins returned very rich. The treasures were believed to be shared among the crew. So, Kris Lane concluded that Drake and Hawkins were among the first English traders.
The Portuguese learned of their invasions and launched complaints against Queen Elizabeth I. The queen warned Hawkins not to take the third sail to West Africa. But, Hawkins requested Captain John Lovell to sail on his behalf. In 1566-67 Drake was part of the sail captained by Lovell. The sail was a failure and the voyage ended with San Juan de Ulúa,1568 ill-fated incident.
They faced resistance from the Africans. The Spanish were armed and hostile. Their major setback was a hurricane that struck destroying their ships. They were forced to repair the ships. This separated one ship from the rest of the voyage leaving it to find its way home. The incident made Drake an enemy of the Spanish and was filled with vengeance for the people of Spain.
4. Drake avenged the Spanish at the Isthmus of Panama and the Spanish Armada
Francis Drake left Plymouth on a mission to capture Nombre de Dios. Nombre was where the Spanish picked up their treasures of silver and gold. Drake was accompanied by 73 crewmen in two vessels Pascha and Swan. They set sail on May 24, 1572. They captured the Spanish silver train at Nombre de Dios in March 1573.
The gold they obtained weighed about 20 tons so they buried some of it on the beach. During this expedition, he climbed a high tree in the central mountains of the Isthmus of Panama. This made him the first Englishman to see the Pacific Ocean.
Drake’s fame in defeating the Spanish was a successful invasion and defeat of the Spanish Armada. It was organized by Philip II to invade England. This invasion made Francis Drake celebrated as a hero in England. He was considered a pirate and enemy of the Spanish.
5. Drake was the first person to lead a sail of the globe
A map that shows the circumnavigation travel of Francis Drake between 1577 and 1580 by Continentalis-Wikimedia
Francis Drake is most famous for being the first English to circumnavigate the globe. What is less celebrated about Drake is that he was the first person to lead a successful circumnavigation mission. The only other attempt to circumnavigate was led by Magellan who died on his voyage. Magellan’s death meant Juan Sebastián Elcano had to assume responsibility to complete the voyage. Elcano having experience as a Spanish navigator took charge of the situation.
6. Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation took 3 years and only one ship survived the entire voyage
Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe between 1577 and 1580. Five ships departed from Plymouth with Drake sailing in the Pelican. Only the Pelican survived the sail to the end. After the successful voyage, the Pelican earned the name the Golden Hind name after its patron Christopher Hatton.
The Pelican Ship (Golden Hind) was the only ship that survived the circumnavigation voyage. Thus, was displayed and maintained for her historic significance. She lived approximately 100 years after which she broke up and rotted away.
7. Sir Francis Drake was a privateer for Queen Elizabeth I
Francis Drake in an audience with Queen Elizabeth photo-Wikimedia
The prominent voyage of circumnavigation was a mission that Queen Elizabeth I sent Francis Drake on. It was meant to start expeditions against the Spanish who controlled the Americas Pacific coast.
8. Drake was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth I
After their return from the circumnavigation, Francis Drake was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. The queen was pleased with his work. Francis Drake had overcome the sea challenges. He was victorious in raiding the Spanish ports and captured a vessel loaded with treasure.
9. Drake was a successful politician
Francis Drake became Mayor of Plymouth in September 1581. He served as a member of parliament for Camelford(1581), Bossiney (1584), and Plymouth(1593) constituencies.
10. Francis Drake had a sea death and burial.
Drake died of dysentery on 28th January 1596 and before dying he requested to be dressed in his full armor. He was buried in a sealed lead-lined coffin near Portobelo. There have been efforts to search for his coffin but to no success.
The English hero, Sir Francis Drake’s little-known fact is that he married Mary Newman in Plymouth in July 1569. Mary died 12 years later and Drake married Elizabeth Sydenham in 1569. Following Drake’s death, Elizabeth got married to Sir William Courtenay of Powderham.
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