The Golden Hind could make a speed of 8 knots. In April 1587 he recklessly sailed into Cadiz and destroyed or captured 37 enemy ships. He is thought to have been named after his Godfather, Francis Russell, who was once the Earl of Bedford. Interesting Facts about Sir Francis Drake. Drake’s exact birth has not been recorded. Guesses on his birth year (based on artifacts or historical hearsay) include 1540, 1539, and 1544. Some love Sir Francis Drake. Francis Drake was the first of twelve sons of Edmund Drake and Mary Mylwaye. Francis Drake, the eldest son of a farmer, was born near Tavistock, Devonshire, England. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Someday he would make his fortune and fame at sea. 1. Some years later Drake took a municipal contract to reconstruct a shallow canal bringing water to the town. Francis Drake was born to Edmund Drake in Devonshire England. Drake is famous for discovering that it was possible to, Built in 1577, Drake’s flagship was called ‘The Golden Hind’, but was originally called ‘The. She is recorded as having sometimes scolded his ‘cavalier’ attitude, but privately, she was known to admire his determination and mischievous sense of humor. Born between 1540 and 1544 in Devonshire, England, Sir Francis Drake was the son of a tenant farmer on the estate of Lord Francis Russell, earl of Bedford. This was due to numerous raids he made against Spanish ships and settlements on his voyages. It’s amazing what he accomplished in such a short life! One cannon ball 'strake atwixt our Generalls legges' (BL, Harley MS 2202, fol. Required fields are marked *. They also attacked Portuguese slave ships in order to steal their human ‘cargo’. Numerous dives have been attempted to locate the lead coffin, but his body remains lost at sea. Francis Drake was the first English explorer to sail around the world. … His father was a minister for the navy and Francis grew up near the sea. T… Your email address will not be published. Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He was born in a city in Devon, England known as Tavistock. Sir Francis Drake Facts 42. In Spain, he was famously referred to as the “El Draque” and “Franciscus Draco” which figuratively mean “Francis the Dragon.” Early Years Drake Young, female and powerful: Was Elizabeth I a feminist. He stole gold and silver and cargo from other ships! Early Years. Due to persecution, a situation known as the ‘Prayer Book Rebellion’ caused Drake’s family to move from Devon to Kent. The family owned a sheep farm and Edmund was also a part time Protestant preacher. His expedition inaugurated an era of conflict with the Spanish on the western coast of the Americas, an are… Faithful Father He died on January 28, 1596, Portobelo, Colón, Panama. He opened the Pacific Ocean to English ships. Francis received little schooling. Sir Francis Drake by Marcus Gheeraerts (1591) and the Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. Francis Drake was the oldest child of Edmund Drake, a farmer from a prosperous peasant family in Tavistock, Devon, in southwestern England. 1. What is known is that he was born in Tavistock, England. Drake also became mayor of Plymouth in 1581. That is because no one around Drake saw her as a woman. Sir Francis Drake, (born c. 1540–43, Devonshire, England—died January 28, 1596, at sea, off Puerto Bello, Panama), English admiral who circumnavigated the globe (1577–80) and was the most renowned seaman of the Elizabethan Age. Drake’s adventures made him a timeless hero among many Englishmen. He went to work for a sea captain at a young age and found his home living and working on a ship. He first sailed as a purser at the age of 18, and quickly rose through the ranks. This was during a battle in the harbour at Palma on Drake’s raid on the West Indies. The Random Vibez. Site Map. He was famed after sailing around the globe the second person in recorded history to do so. Francis Drake Biography, Life, Interesting Facts. His parents were Edmund Drake, a farmer at the estate of Lord Francis Russell, and Mary Mylwaye. 0. His strict but fair control of his ship meant his crew were loyal and confident. While still a young boy, he was sent to live with relatives, the Hawkins family, in the nearby town of Plymouth on England's southwest coast. These were coupled with a tactical mind suited to making the most of weather conditions and coastal features. His fiancee is Elizabeth Sydenham (m. 1585–1596), Mary Newman (m. 1569–1581). Drake’s exact birth has not been recorded. Guesses on his birth year (based on artifacts or historical hearsay) include 1540, 1539, and 1544. His daring adventures at sea helped to establish England's naval supremacy over Spain and other European nations. Francis Drake was born in Tavistock, Devon. Drake had a firm reputation as a skilled, strong-willed commander, with exceptional navigational skills. During the colonial era in Europe, the word “hero” was often used to describe the explorers that found new lands for the crown. Others think of him in a not-so-friendly light. He then occupied the Portuguese town of Sagres for a time and finally, in the Azores, seized a large Portuguese carrack bound homeward from Goa with a rich cargo. Drake carried out the second circumnavigation (First was Ferdinand Magellan) of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580, and was the first to complete the voyage as captain while leading the expedition throughout the entire circumnavigation. Even to this day, we have no idea when Drake was born. In 1595, a series of failures reduced his capacity for battle, and it was reported that his ‘strong will alone kept many loyal to him, willing to risk their lives’. 41. 11906. Your support is vital to our work as a charity, helping us to care for your... Four new galleries at the National Maritime Museum. This business arrangement has given rise to the myth that Francis Drake brought the first supply of water to the inhabitants of Plymouth. He fled his native county after being charged for “assault and robbery” in 1548. His father, Robert Drake, later became a preacher and raised his twelve children as Protestants (followers of the Christian religion who are not part of the Roman Catholic Church). The navigator Sir Francis Drake helped to build up England’s power during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I . In his lifetime, Francis Drake had a diary which contained a lot of information pertaining to his various adventures as an explorer. It seems you just couldn’t tear the man away from the, A famously recorded incident recounts how, when playing a game of bowls, Drake was interrupted as he was warned the Spanish fleet was on the approach. However, it wasn’t the only ship Drake sailed – as you, The Spanish nicknamed Sir Francis Drake ‘El Drague’, meaning ‘The. 10 Interesting Facts About Sir Francis Drake. Drake is best known for his circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580. 3 years later, his third mix tape earned him critical and commercial success, and the following year, he released his first album. Once taken, however, Drake didn’t stay to defend the island because no one paid him to do so. The Spanish were formidable opponents, but Drake was known and feared because of his cool head and well-trained crew. Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe was also a secret pirate mission sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth against the Spanish. Expert navigator and Elizabethan hero, pirate and slave trader: learn 10 quick facts about Francis Drake. His nationality is English. 1569, Francis Drake married a Cornish woman named Mary Newman. Elizabeth commissioned Drake to lead an exhibition against the Spanish colonies on the Pacific coast of America. Drake’s second wife was called Elizabeth Sydenham – and their marriage lasted from 1585 to 1596. Sir Francis Drake was one of those explorers and many people thought of him as that hero. Drake carried out the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580, and was the first to complete the voyage as captain while leading the expedition throughout the entire circumnavigation. It also helped prove that the Earth was round. He also helped defeat the Armada , the fleet (group of ships) that Spain sent to conquer England. Use our interactive map to navigate our fascinating planet and discover many interesting and fun facts for every country…, © 2021 Planet Numbers Ltd.   Sir Francis Drake is one of England’s best-known sailors. Here are some fascinating facts about the man whose life embodied the prevalent values of the Tudor age. Historians speculate that he was born between 1540 to 1544. Newton died 12 years later in 1581 and in 1585 Drake married again. 57v). Find us on Facebook He was buried in a lead coffin, dressed in a full suit of armour. He was the oldest of twelve other sons, and his father was a farmer by profession. His fleet was gunning for Spanish treasure, but an early attack on San Juan, Puerto Rico was repulsed, as was a second raid on Panama. Gheeraerts ( 1591 ) and the second global circumnavigation from 1577 to 1580, Joseph Drake, Drake... The West Indies was Mary Newman ( m. 1585–1596 ), Mary Newman 1540. 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