Sir Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake was an Englishman who hoped to explore possibilities of trade and colonial settlement in the Pacific Ocean and to find the western outlet of the Northwest Passage.

Drake became a ship's captain in 1567, and he lead several trading voyages from England to the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. He discovered that all the goods and silver from the Spanish colonies on the west coast of South America had to be carried on mules across the Isthmus of Panama, a thin strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Drake plundered (stole the money) the towns of Vera Cruz, Portebello, and Nombre De Dios in Panama. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama. From there he saw the Pacific Ocean, and he said he would sail an English ship in that sea someday.

In 1577, Queen Elizabeth 1 chose him to lead a secret expedition to the Pacific coast of North America.

He started his voyage on December 13, 1577. He and more than 160 men sailed from Plymouth on six ships, Drake's flagship the Golden Hind (originally called the Pelican), the Marigold, the Elizabeth, the Swan, the Mary (originally the Santa Maria) and the Christopher.

The ships then sailed south along the Atlantic coast of South America and ran into violent storms. Drake destroyed the supply ships, the Swan, the Mary, and the Christopher because they were in bad condition.

The remaining three ships sailed through the Strait of Magellan. Shortly after that some more violent storms wrecked the Marigold and blew the Elizabeth off course forcing it to return to England. The storms also blew the Golden Hind, which he was sailing on, way to the south. Drake then headed north along the Pacific coast of South America. He captured a Spanish ship the Cacafuego and stole its cargo of gold, silver, and jewels.

Loaded with treasure, the Golden Hind sailed north along the Pacific coast of North America. He stopped near what is now called San Francisco and repaired the Golden Hind. He claimed the land for England and named the new area New Albion.

Drake had planned to return to England through the Strait of Magellan, not to sail around the world. But he feared an attack from the Spanish if he sailed south again. So he decided to sail home by the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Drake stopped many times for supplies. After crossing the Indian ocean he sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. Drake reached Plymouth on September 26, 1580. He had been out at sea for almost three years and the voyage made him a national hero and he is still today.