Drake started his famous circumnavigation of the world from Plymouth, England, November 15, 1577, passed through the Straight of Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who organised the Spanish expedition to the East Indies from 1519 to 1522, resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth, completed by Juan Sebastián Elcano.
It was not a sophisticated ship, but a classic example of a mid 16th century warship during the transition from the carrack to the galleon weighing around 120 tons. The Golden Hind was fast and highly manoevrable in battle and able to be taken (and hidden) in small ports around coastal waters.
What did Sir Francis Drake discover on his voyage?
Drake became the first Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan, a sea route at the southern tip of South America linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He discovered that Tierra del Fuego, the land south of the Magellan Strait, was not another continent as Europeans believed, but instead a group of islands.
How did the Drake Passage get its name?
The History of the Drake Passage This body of water is named after the famous English explorer, Sir Francis Drake. Though Drake never sailed through his namesake waters himself, one of his ships did pass near its location, discovering a connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Where did Sir Francis Drake live in England?
Sir Francis Drake’s Early Life and Hatred for Spain 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. He was brought up in Plymouth by the Hawkins family, relatives who worked as merchants and privateers (often referred to as pirates).
Why is the Drake Passage important to Antarctica?
The waters of the Drake Passage are rich in plankton and krill, which are an essential food source for blue and fin whales, squid, emperor penguins, and crabeater seals. The voyage across the Drake Passage can be one of the most memorable parts of a journey to Antarctica.
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What continents did Sir Francis Drake explore?
What was Sir Francis Drake's route? Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation began in Plymouth, England. His fleet sailed across the Atlantic to South America before entering the Strait of Magellan. They entered the Pacific Ocean and sailed north to Vancouver Island.
What countries did Sir Francis Drake visit?
He sailed to the West Indies and the coast of Florida and mercilessly plundered Spanish ports there, taking Santiago in the Cape Verde Islands, Cartagena in Colombia, St. Augustine in Florida and San Domingo (now Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic).
Did Sir Francis Drake travel around the world?
The Famous Voyage: The Circumnavigation of the World, 1577-1580. Drake was noted in his life for one daring feat after another; his greatest was his circumnavigation of the earth, the first after Magellan's. He sailed from Plymouth on Dec. 13, 1577.
What route did Francis Drake explore?
The Straits of Magellen. Drake became the first Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan, a sea route at the southern tip of South America linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Who is the first person to sail around the world?
MagellanOne of the most noted of Portuguese-born explorers was Fernão de Magalhães (anglicized as "Magellan"), who instigated and organized the first circumnavigation of the globe from 1519 to 1522.
Where did Francis Drake start his journey?
First Commission from Queen Elizabeth I That year Drake embarked on his first independent voyage to Panama from Plymouth, England. He planned to attack the town of Nombre de Dios, a drop-off point for Spanish ships bringing silver and gold from Peru. With two ships and a crew of 73 men, Drake captured the town.
How long did it take Drake to sail around the world?
On 15 November 1577, Francis Drake began a circumnavigation which would last for 1046 days. Before this journey, only a single expedition had completed a circumnavigation, one pioneered by Ferdinand Magellan.
Was Drake the first to sail around the world?
Drake not only became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, he was also the first to complete a circumnavigation as a captain while leading the expedition throughout the entire voyage.
Where did the Golden Hind travel?
In 1984–85, she sailed around the British Isles and then crossed the Atlantic to St Thomas in the Caribbean. In 1986, she passed through the Panama Canal to sail on to Vancouver, where she was the main attraction in the Marine Plaza at Expo86.
What was Francis Drake's last voyage?
Drake's last campaign was an expedition commanded jointly by him and his old associate Sir John Hawkins, under whom his career had had such a spectacular beginning at San Juan de Ulúa, in 1567. Nearly thirty years later, they sailed from Plymouth on August 28, 1595.
What were the results of Sir Francis Drake exploration?
Sir Francis Drake's adventurous life was filled with many accomplishments. He played a major role in the destruction and defeat of the mighty Spanish Armada. This helped England to create a great empire in the New World. He also became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe.
What did Francis Drake do in the Caribbean?
He then plundered Santiago in the Cape Verde islands after which the fleet then sailed across the Atlantic, sacked the port of Santo Domingo, and captured the city of Cartagena de Indias in present-day Colombia. At Cartagena, Drake released one hundred Turks who were enslaved.
What country was Sir Francis Drake from?
EnglishFrancis Drake / NationalitySir 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.
What is Sir Francis Drake famous for?
Sir Francis Drake is best known for circumnavigating Earth (1577–80), preying on Spanish ships along the way. Later he was credited for his defense...
What were Sir Francis Drake’s other major achievements?
In addition to circumnavigating the world, Sir Francis Drake is known for making several voyages to the West Indies as a slave trader. He later ser...
How did Sir Francis Drake die?
During Sir Francis Drake’s final voyage to the Caribbean to raid Spanish possessions, the fleet he commanded was decimated by a fever. He died from...
What did Drake do when he was 18?
When Drake was about 18, he enlisted in the Hawkins family fleet, which prowled for shipping to plunder or seize off the French coast. By the early 1560s, he had graduated to the African trade, in which the Hawkins family had an increasing interest, and by 1568 he had command of his own ship on a Hawkins venture of illicit slave-trading in the Spanish colonies of the Caribbean.
What was Drake's purpose in the voyage?
In 1577 he was chosen as the leader of an expedition intended to pass around South America through the Strait of Magellan and to explore the coast that lay beyond. The expedition was backed by the queen herself. Nothing could have suited Drake better.
What was Sir Francis Drake known for?
In addition to circumnavigating the world, Sir Francis Drake is known for making several voyages to the West Indies as a slave trader. He later served Queen Elizabeth I as a privateer and naval officer charged with striking against Spain’s possessions. He also served as the mayor of Plymouth, England.
How much did the Pelican weigh?
His flagship, the Pelican, which Drake later renamed the Golden Hind (or Hinde ), weighed only about 100 tons. It seemed little enough with which to undertake a venture into the domain of the most powerful monarch and empire in the world. voyages of Ferdinand Magellan and Francis Drake.
How did Francis Drake die?
He died from fever , or possibly dysentery associated with the condition, at sea on January 28, 1596, near Portobelo, Panama . He was buried at sea, supposedly in a lead coffin.
When did the Golden Hind come back?
Two years after she had nosed her way into the Strait of Magellan, the Golden Hind came back into the Atlantic with only 56 of the original crew of 100 left aboard. On September 26, 1580, Francis Drake took his ship into Plymouth Harbour. She was laden with treasure and spices, and Drake’s fortune was permanently made.
When did Francis Drake first see the Pacific Ocean?
An obscure period of Drake’s life follows; he makes almost no appearance in the records until 1577. Francis Drake views the Pacific Ocean for the first time, from a tree on the Isthmus of Panama, illustration from 1906, by T.H. Robinson. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.
What was Drake’s early life like?
Francis Drake was born in Tavistock, Devon, around 1542. The eldest of 12 sons, he first went to sea as an apprentice aged 12. During the period in which he lived, there was a rise in England’s population and a desire to explore the world for trade routes and colonies, and to benefit from the huge profits being made from the Americas and the Eastern spice trade.
When did Francis Drake circumnavigate the world?
Drake voyaged around the world between 1577 to 1580. The original purpose of the trip was to raid Spanish ships and ports.
What was Francis Drake’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth I?
Drake was one of Queen Elizabeth’s most renowned sailors, making a name for himself as an enemy of the Spanish and obtaining much wealth for the Queen in the process.
What was Francis Drake’s role in the Spanish Armada?
The Spanish Armada led by King Philip II of Spain attempted to invade England in 1588, to avenge the death of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587.
How many ships did Drake capture?
Between 20 and 30 Spanish ships were sunk or captured during the raid. Drake was also involved in many battles against the Spanish Armada in 1588, most notably the capture of the Spanish flagship Rosario.
What was Drake's ship called?
Drake himself sailed on the Pelican, which he renamed mid-voyage to the Golden Hind in honour of his patron Sir Christopher Hatton, whose crest featured a female red deer (a 'golden hind').
What did Tierra del Fuego mean?
This meant that ships could sail between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans around the bottom of South America (later known as the Cape Horn route).
What was Drake's role in the Spanish invasion of England?
When the Spanish Armada did launch in 1588, Drake, serving as vice admiral in command of the nimble English fleet of warships, was instrumental in the destruction of the mighty Spanish Armada off the coast of England, helping to pave the way for England to become a global superpower and helping Drake secure a reputation as one of the finest sailors in history .
What was the Golden Hind filled with?
His ship, the Golden Hind (which had originally been named the Pelican ), was soon filled with gold and silver, chests of rare porcelains from China, spices, and silks.
How many ships did Drake have?
Drake commanded a fleet of about 25 ships and 2,300 men. His most important targets during this expedition were Santo Domingo (in present day Dominican Republic) and Cartagena (in present-day Colombia); from both of those towns he wrung fat ransoms.
What happened to Francis Drake?
A couple weeks later, Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship of dysentery on January 28, 1596, and was buried at sea near Portobelo on the Caribbean coast of Panamá.
What was Francis Drake known for?
Quick Facts. During his time, Sir Francis Drake was known in England as an expert sailor, adventurer, privateer, navigator, and war hero. The Spanish, however, viewed him as an illegal trader of enslaved people and a ruthless pirate. Francis Drake came of age during a time of empire building for England, which trailed the earlier explorations ...
What was Drake's most famous voyage?
While "The Voyage of Circumnavigation," is one of Drake's most famous maritime exploits, after serving as Mayor of Plymouth and a Member of Parliament in the early 1580s, he returned to sea in 1585 to raid Spanish settlements in the Caribbean. Drake commanded a fleet of about 25 ships and 2,300 men. His most important targets during this expedition were Santo Domingo (in present day Dominican Republic) and Cartagena (in present-day Colombia); from both of those towns he wrung fat ransoms.
What was Drake's last successful venture?
However, the defeat of the Spanish Armada was among the last of Drake's successful ventures. An expedition to attack Spain failed in 1589. Six years later, he returned to the Caribbean, where he would suffer two significant defeats.
How long does it take to get to Antarctica?
Though the Drake Passage is situated in one of the most remote parts of the world, it is one of the primary ways to reach Antarctica. In general, the journey takes approximately 36 hours from Ushuaia, Argentina (the southernmost city in the world). Around 75,000 people per year journey to Antarctica via sea voyage. The exciting experience of sailing this passageway is that of following in the footsteps of many of history’s greatest explorers.
What is the most memorable part of Antarctica?
The voyage across the Drake Passage can be one of the most memorable parts of a journey to Antarctica. Below, you will find a list of some of the things that we – or our fellow travelers – have enjoyed doing:
How to reach the seventh continent?
Reaching the icy seventh continent by crossing the Drake Passage is a defining item on the bucket list of many explorers. By journeying through the legendary Drake, you have thus paid the ‘price of entry.’ The great reward is Antarctica herself! Then, you can discover a pristine land, both vast and truly unlike anywhere else in the world.
How wide is the Drake Passage?
Looking at it on a map, the Drake Passage is broad in area, around 620 miles in width. It is of particular interest to anyone wanting to voyage to Antarctica, because it extends from South America’s southernmost tip to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
What is the Drake Passage?
The Drake Passage is situated at the point where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. This means that it is a massive convergence of waves, wind, and currents. Looking at it on a map, the Drake Passage is broad in area, around 620 miles in width. It is of particular interest to anyone wanting to voyage to Antarctica, because it extends from South America’s southernmost tip to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Why is the Drake Passage important?
Despite the difficulties involved in navigating it, the Drake Passage proved to be an important part of future international trade routes in the 19th and early 20th centuries, prior to the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Throughout history, the Drake Passage is known for its often turbulent seas.
What was the first ship to sail through the Drake Passage?
Many decades after its discovery, a ship named the Eendracht made the first recorded successful voyage through the Drake Passage. Willem Schouten, a Dutch navigator, served as captain of this voyage in 1616. He also named Cape Horn on this journey. Despite the difficulties involved in navigating it, the Drake Passage proved to be an important part of future international trade routes in the 19th and early 20th centuries, prior to the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914.
Early Life
Slave Trade
- In 1567, Drake and his cousin John Hawkins sailed to Africa in order to join the fledgling slave trade. When they sailed to New Spain to sell their captives to settlers there (which was against Spanish law), they were trapped by a Spanish attack in the Mexican port of San Juan de Ulua. Many of their crewmates were killed in the incident, though Drake and Hawkins escaped, and Dr…
Privateer For The British Crown
- After leading two successful expeditions to the West Indies, Drake came to the attention of Queen Elizabeth I, who granted him a privateer’s commission, effectively giving him the right to plunder Spanish ports in the Caribbean. Drake did just that in 1572, capturing the port of Nombre de Dios (a drop-off point for silver and gold brought from Peru) and crossing the Isthmus of Panama, wh…
Drake Circumnavigates The Globe
- After plundering Spanish ports along the west coast of South America, Drake headed north in search of a passage back to the Atlantic. He claimed to have traveled as far north as 48 degrees North (on parallel with Vancouver, Canada) before extreme cold conditions turned him back. Drake anchored near today’s San Franciscoand claimed the surrounding land, which he called N…
The Spanish Armada
- In 1585, with hostilities heating up again between England and Spain, the queen gave Drake command of a fleet of 25 ships. He sailed to the West Indies and the coast of Floridaand mercilessly plundered Spanish ports there, taking Santiago in the Cape Verde Islands, Cartagena in Colombia, St. Augustine in Florida and San Domingo (now Santo Domingo, capital of the Domi…
Sources
- Sir Francis Drake. National Park Service. Sir Francis Drake (c.1540 - c.1596). BBC. Sir Francis Drake Facts. Royal Museums Greenwich. Roanoke Voyages. The Lost Colony.