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Francis Drake

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description Francis Drake Overview

Francis Drake was an English mariner, privateer and naval commander active during the reign of Elizabeth I. His expedition of 1577 to 1580 completed the second circumnavigation of the globe and made him the first commander to survive an entire circumnavigation, although the voyage also involved raids on Spanish possessions and shipping. He later served as vice admiral during the English defense against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

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When did Francis Drake complete his circumnavigation of the globe?

Francis Drake's expedition set out in 1577 and returned to England in 1580, completing a voyage of roughly three years. This was the second circumnavigation of the globe after Ferdinand Magellan's expedition of 1519 to 1522.

Was Francis Drake the first person to circumnavigate the world?

No, the first circumnavigation was completed by the survivors of Magellan's expedition, though Magellan himself died during the voyage. Drake was, however, the first commander to lead and survive an entire circumnavigation from start to finish.

What was the name of Francis Drake's ship?

Drake's flagship for the circumnavigation was the Golden Hind, originally named the Pelican. He renamed the ship in 1578 as he entered the Strait of Magellan, in honor of his patron Sir Christopher Hatton, whose coat of arms featured a golden hind.

Under which English monarch did Francis Drake serve?

Francis Drake operated under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who both sanctioned his privateering voyages and knighted him aboard the Golden Hind upon his return from the circumnavigation in 1581. He later played a key role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 as vice admiral.

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