Francis Drake

Also known as Sir Francis Drake

English sailor and privateer (c. 1540 – 1596)

AI overview

Francis Drake was an English sailor and privateer who lived from around 1540 to 1596, gaining prominence during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He is remembered as a significant figure in English naval history, though historical views of him vary depending on whether one emphasizes his role in English maritime expansion or his involvement in slave trading and raids on Spanish colonies.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Instance of: human
Given name: Francis
Family name: Drake
Gender: male
Citizenship: Kingdom of England
Place of birth: Tavistock
Place of death: Portobelo
Occupation: privateer
Languages spoken: Middle English
Award: Knight Bachelor
Conflict: Anglo-Spanish War
Military branch: Royal Navy
Military rank: vice admiral
Image: Gheeraerts Francis Drake 1591.jpg
Residence: Buckland Abbey

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Commons category: Francis Drake
date of birth: 1540-00-00
topic's main category: Category:Francis Drake
Commons gallery: Francis Drake
manner of death: natural causes
name in native language: Francis Drake
honorific prefix: Sir
cause of death: dysentery
on focus list of Wikimedia project: Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4
P12749: La Gacilly
date of death: 1596-01-27
P13311: Horn of Africa

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Encyclopedic overview

Sir Francis Drake (c. 1540 – 28 January 1596) was an English explorer and privateer best known for making the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition between 1577 and 1580 (being the first English expedition to accomplish this). He is also known for participating in the early English slaving voyages of his cousin, John Hawkins, and John Lovell. Having started as a simple seaman, in 1588 he was part of the fight against the Spanish Armada as a vice admiral.

At an early age, Drake was placed into the household of a relative, William Hawkins, a prominent sea captain in Plymouth. In 1572, he set sail on his first independent mission, privateering along the Spanish Main. Drake's circumnavigation began on 13 December 1577. He crossed the Pacific Ocean, until then an area of exclusive Spanish interest, and laid claim to New Albion, plundering coastal towns and ships for treasure and supplies as he went. He arrived back in England on 26 September 1580. Elizabeth I awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581 which he received aboard his galleon the Golden Hind.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Francis Drake” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.