Table of Contents
Where did Francis Drake sail from?
English seaman Francis Drake sets out from Plymouth, England, with five ships and 164 men on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World and explore the Pacific Ocean.
How many ships did Drake have?
five ships
The expedition left Plymouth in southwest England on 13 December comprised of five ships: the Pelican, Elizabeth, Marigold, Swan, and Christopher, manned by a total of 164 seamen.
Why was Francis Drake important?
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 of England by raiding Spain’s harbour at Cádiz in 1587 and (according to many sources) by disrupting the Spanish Armada in the English Channel with fire ships in 1588.
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.
Why was Francis Drake significant?
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 money did Drake bring back from his circumnavigation?
Drake as a result had to lie very low over the next few years but intended on another future expedition where he knew he could get backing. With nearly 100,000 pesos of stolen loot secretly hidden away, Drake had enough money to command and set up a new fleet with a return to the Spanish Main.
How many ships did Francis Drake return with?
English seaman Francis Drake returns to Plymouth, England, in the Golden Hind, becoming the first British navigator to sail the earth. On December 13, 1577, Drake set out from England with five ships on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World.
Who was involved in Francis Drakes circumnavigation?
Elizabeth and members of her court, including Robert Dudley, Christopher Hatton and Francis Walsingham (now Elizabeth’s Secretary of State) were among those who invested in Drake’s voyage and secretly supported his privateering – the looting of Spanish ships and ports.
When did Christopher Drake cross the Strait of Magellan?
By August 20, 1578, Drake and his fleet entered the Strait of Magellan, and crossed into the Pacific Ocean.5 It had taken Ferdinand Magellan a month to cross through the Strait; it only took Drake 16 days.6 It is around this time that Drake renamed his ship Golden Hind. The fleet then sailed north up the west coast of South America.
Why did James Drake tell the crew he was sailing to Levant?
Rather than reveal his true intentions, Drake told the crew they were embarking on a trading voyage to Levant. The reason for this was to persuade the men to take ship and to avoid knowing the real dangers they faced. Deserted off Cape Horn and returned home.
Who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world?
Drake was not only the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, but also the first person to lead an entire circumnavigation; the only previous such voyage, Magellan’s circumnavigation, was taken over by Spanish navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano following Magellan’s death.