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Sir Francis Drake Facts

Sir Francis Drake Facts
Sir Francis Drake was an English slave trader, ship commander, and politician of the Elizabethan era. He is most well-known for being the second person to circumnavigate the world in one expedition. Francis Drake was born in Devon, England at some time between 1540 and 1544, although no record of birth exists. He was the oldest of 12 sons. His father was Edmund Drake, a farmer on Lord Francis Russell's estate, and his mother was Mary Mylwaye Drake. Francis apprenticed with a merchant sailor, and then became a privateer with his relatives the Hawkinses, and in 1560 became commander of the ship the Judith.
Interesting Sir Francis Drake Facts:
In the 1560s, as a commander of the ship the Judith, Francis Drake sailed to Africa with his cousin and acquired slaves, whom they then sold to settlers in New Spain.
In 1572 Queen Elizabeth I granted Francis Drake a privateer's commission. He set off for Panama with a large crew, where they raided Spanish settlements. They returned in 1573, and were soon sent to South America to continue with their 'privateering'.
In 1580 Francis Drake returned to Plymouth, with a large amount of looted gold and silver. The Queen knighted him in 1581.
In late 1581 Sir Francis Drake was elected to the House of Commons.
Sir Francis Drake became Plymouth's mayor in 1581.
England and Spain's relations grew much worse between 1585 and 1586, leading to an attempted invasion of England by the Spanish in 1588. The invasion failed due to Sir Francis Drake's position as vice admiral of the English Navy and his battle plans.
Sir Francis Drake was again sent out by Queen Elizabeth to destroy any Spanish ships and to aid the Lisbon rebels against the Spanish. More than 20 ships were lost, along with more than 12,000 members of the English Navy.
In 1595 Queen Elizabeth sent Sir Francis Drake to war again, but he contracted dysentery and died of complications on January 28th, 1596 at the estimated age of 55. His lead coffin, believed to be buried near Portobello, Panama, has never been recovered.
Sir Francis Drake was also known as El Draque (Spanish), and Draco (Latin for 'The Dragon').
It was rumored that King Philip II of Spain put a price on Sir Francis Drake's head in the amount of 22,000 ducats, which would be equal to approximately $6.5 million US.
Sir Francis Drake married Mary Newman in 1569. She died in 1581. He then married Elizabeth Sydenham in 1585. They were still married when he died. He had no children.
Several places have been named after Sir Francis Drake including the naval base HMS Drake, Drakes Bay, and Drake's Island, as well as streets, roundabouts, a hotel, a high school, and Mount Sir Francis Drake.
TV shows and movies have been made featuring Sir Francis Drake including Drake of England (1935), Sir Francis Drake (1961 series), and The Immortal Voyage of Captain Drake (2009).
Sir Francis Drake made a large portion of his fortune kidnapping West African people and selling them/trading them for goods in other countries.


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