Biography of Sir Francis Drake

Although he was considered a pirate by the Spaniards, he was a legend among the English. This Vice Admiral was known for motivating his subordinates, and played an important role in leading the English fleet in an attack against the Spanish Armada in 1588. Known as "El Draque" (Spanish pronunciation for "Drake") among the Spanish, it was believed that King Phillip II had offered twenty thousand ducats as a reward for his life. His ruthless and calculative ways helped him gain control over territories on his voyages around the world.

Childhood

Born in the market town of Tavistock located in Devon, England, to Edmund Drake and Mary Mylwaye, Sir Francis was the eldest amongst twelve sons. His father was a staunch Protestant who later took up preaching. Named after his godfather Francis Russel, 2nd Earl of Bedford, Sir Francis was eager to learn new things at a very young age. In 1549, his family was forced to take refuge in Kent at the time of the Prayer Book Rebellion. Just before turning thirteen, he embarked on a career in the sea by becoming a member of a crew in a boat that traded from Thames to other ports.

Early Years

At the age of twenty, after the captain of the ship he was working in passed away, he became the owner of the ship. In the company of his second cousin Sir John Hawkins, he embarked on his first voyage to the New World on one of the ships that was owned by his relatives. In 1569, he was trapped by the Spaniards on one of his fleets at the port of San Juan de Ulua in Mexico. Although he managed to escape from the clutches of the Spaniards, it is believed that this traumatic experience evoked a feeling of revenge against the Spanish.

Popularity

Under the reign of Elizabeth I of England, on November 15, 1577, Sir Francis Drake set out on the Pacific coast with a fleet of ships on an expedition against the Spanish. Bad weather made him take refuge in Falmouth, Cornwall. After getting some repair work done, he again set sail along with his fleet. Just as he was about to reach the coast of Peru, he was injured by the "Mapuches", the indigenous inhabitants of that area. He later proceeded after recovering, and after giving a long chase captured a ship from Spain which was filled with twenty five thousand pesos of pure Peruvian gold. This haul amounted to thirty seven thousand ducats of Spanish money.

After circumnavigating the world, Sir Francis Drake returned to England in 1580. After being awarded the knighthood he was chosen to become the Mayor of Plymouth in September 1581. In 1588, as Vice Admiral under the command of Charles Howard, he offered a stiff resistance and overcame the Spanish Armada, a Spanish fleet that was trying to invade England. The Spanish Armada which was considered impregnable in those times, was driven out of English waters in a tactful and calculative manner by the English fleet.

Although he survived constant attacks from Spanish gunmen at El Moro Castle, he succumbed to dysentery in the year 1596. This was at a time when he unsuccessfully tried to attack San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Sir Francis Drake's exploits angered a few around the world in those times, but his achievements have been recognized the world over and are a constant reminder that persistence pays.