c. 1545-1596. English buccaneer and explorer.
Having enriched himself as a pirate against
Spanish interests in the Caribbean 1567-72,
he was sponsored by Elizabeth I for an
expedition to the Pacific, sailing round the
world 1577-80 in the Golden Hind, robbing
Spanish ships as he went. It was the second
circumnavigation of the globe (the first was
by the Portuguese explorer Magellan). Drake
was born in Devon and apprenticed to the
master of a coasting vessel, who left him the
ship at his death. He accompanied his
relative, the navigator John Hawkins, in 1567
and 1572 to plunder the Caribbean, and
returned to England 1573 with considerable
booty. After serving in Ireland as a
volunteer, he suggested to Queen Elizabeth I
an expedition to the Pacific, and in Dec 1577
he sailed in the Pelican with four other
ships and 166 men towards South America. In
Aug 1578 the fleet passed through the Straits
of Magellan and was then blown south to Cape
Horn. The ships became separated and returned
to England, all but the Pelican, now renamed
the Golden Hind. Drake sailed north along the
coast of Chile and Peru, robbing Spanish
ships as far north as California, and then,
in July 1579, headed southwest across the
Pacific. He rounded the South African Cape
June 1580, and reached England Sept 1580. In
1581 Drake was chosen mayor of Plymouth, and
in 1584-85 he represented Bosinney in
Parliament. In a raid on Cadiz 1587 he burned
10,000 tons of shipping, `singed the King of
Spain's beard', and delayed the Spanish
Armada for a year. He was stationed off
Ushant 1588 to intercept the Armada, but was
driven back to England by unfavourable winds.
During the fight in the Channel he served as
a vice admiral in the Revenge. Drake sailed
on his last expedition to the West Indies
with Hawkins 1595, and in Jan 1596 died on
his ship off Nombre de Dios. Drake suggested
to Queen Elizabeth I an expedition to the
Pacific, and it was granted; in Dec 1577 he
sailed in the Pelican with four other ships
and 166 men towards South America. In Aug
1578 the fleet passed through the Straits of
Magellan and was then blown south to Cape
Horn. The ships became separated and returned
to England, all but the Pelican, now renamed
the Golden Hind. Drake sailed north along the
coast of Chile and Peru, robbing Spanish
ships as far north as California, and then,
in July 1579, traveled southwest across the
Pacific. He rounded the South African Cape
June 1580, and reached England Sept 1580,
thus completing the second voyage around the
world. When the Spanish ambassador demanded
Drake's punishment, the Queen knighted him on
the deck of the Golden Hind in London.