Francis Drake

Profession: Admiral, Explorer and Navigator

Nationality:

Biography: Francis Drake was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. His adventures and confrontations with the Spanish made him a hero to the English but a pirate to the Spaniards to whom he was known as El Draque. Queen Elizabeth I awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581 for his exploits, and he was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

One of Drake's most notable exploits was his circumnavigation of the globe from 1577 to 1580. He emerged as the first Englishman to navigate the straits of Magellan and was the first to claim California for England, believing it to be an island separate from the mainland of America. Drake’s exploration ventures paved the way for an English expansion into the New World.

Although primarily known as an explorer and naval tactician, Drake also served as the Mayor of Plymouth and as a Member of Parliament. His impact extended beyond exploration and politics to the realm of naval warfare, where he helped revolutionize naval combat during the Elizabethan era.

Birthplace: Tavistock, England, United Kingdom

Died: January 28, 1596
Cause of Death: Dysentery