Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake, Vice Adm, (c. 1540 – January 28, 1596) was an English privateer, navigator, naval pioneer, naval raider, politician, and civil engineer of the Elizabethan period. He was the first Englishman (and the first captain of a non-Spanish ship) to circumnavigate the globe. He was second in command of the English fleet which defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.

The Spanish Armada

War broke out between Spain and England in 1585. Drake sailed to the new world and sacked the ports of Santo Domingo and Cartegena. On the return leg of the voyage he captured the Spanish fort of San Agustín in Florida. These exploits encouraged King Philip II of Spain to order the planning for an invasion of England.

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In a pre-emptive strike Drake "singed the King of Spain's beard" by sailing a fleet into Cadiz, one of Spain’s main ports, occupying the town for three days, destroying 31 enemy ships as well as a large quantity of stores and capturing 6 ships. This attack delayed the Spanish invasion by a year.

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Drake was vice admiral in command of the English fleet (under Lord Howard of Effingham) when they overcame the Spanish Armada that was attempting to invade England in 1588. As the English fleet pursued the Armada up the Channel, Drake captured the Spanish galleon Rosario along with Admiral Pedro de Valdes and all his crew, but causing confusion in the English fleet in the process. The Spanish ship was known to be carrying substantial funds to pay the Spanish Army in the Low countries. Drake's responsibilities included carrying a stern lantern intended as a guiding light at night for other English vessels in the armada. This exemplified Drake's ability as a privateer to suspend strategic purpose if a tactical profit was on offer.

Related Topics:
Vice admiral - Lord Howard of Effingham - Spanish Armada - 1588 - Pedro de Valdes

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On the night of 29 July, along with Howard, Drake organised the fire-ships which caused the majority of the Spanish captains to break formation and sail out of Calais into the open sea. The next day Drake was present at the Battle of Gravelines.

Related Topics:
29 July - Calais - Battle of Gravelines

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The most famous (but probably apocryphal) anecdote about Drake's life tells that, prior to the battle, he was playing a game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe. On being warned of the approach of the Spanish fleet, Drake is said to have remarked that there was plenty of time to finish the game and still beat the Spaniards. This was the highpoint of the remarkable mariner's career.

Related Topics:
Bowls - Plymouth Hoe

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In 1589, the year after the victory over the Spanish Armada, Drake was sent to liberate Portugal, which had been annexed by King Philip II of Spain under a personal union in 1580. En route he sacked the city of A Coruña in Spain. The massive combined naval and land expedition (see "English Armada") was a dismal failure, attributed to a grievous lack of organization, poor training, and paltry supplies. It was a crucial turning point in the Anglo-Spanish War (1585).

Related Topics:
Portugal - Personal union - A Coruña - English Armada - Anglo-Spanish War (1585)

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