Francis Drake Biography

Drake is the 1st English Commander to reach the Pacific

Drake successfully ambushes a Spanish treasure convoy in Panama

Sponsored by Elizabeth I to explore the Pacific. Sails around the world, robbing Spanish ships on his way

Sails the Pelican with 4 other ships & 166 men towards South America

Sets sail in the Golden Hind

The Pelican is renamed the Golden Hind. All the ships in the fleet separate but all return to England

The fleet passes through the straits of Magellan

Sails from Chile to California then across the Pacific

Drake lands in California & claims English sovereignty over "New Albion"

Drake lands in California & claims English sovereignty over "New Albion"

Drake lands in California & claims English sovereignty over "New Albion"

Drake returns with treasure from Spanish ships, Elizabeth's share is 160,000

Knighted for circumnavigation of the globe. Elizabeth I knights Drake on the deck of the Golden Hind at Deptford, London

Rounds the Cape of Good Hope

1st person to complete the circumnavigation of the World

Appointed Mayor of Plymouth

Returns to England with potato & tobacco

Returns to England with potato & tobacco

Destroys the Andalusian fishing industry which would supply the Armada

A raid on Cadiz, led by Francis Drake had captured or destroyed some thirty ships and great quantities of supplies, setting preparations back by a year

A further twenty merchantmen and armed pinnaces joined forces with the expedition.

Queen Elizabeth gave the English privateer, Sir Francis Drake, the command of a fleet whose mission was to inspect the Spanish military preparations, intercept their supplies, attack the fleet and if possible the Spanish ports.

The cost of these boats was met by a group of London merchants, whose profits were to be calculated in the same proportions as their investment in the fleet; the Queen, as owner of the four Royal Naval vessels, was to receive 50% of the profits

To that end, the Queen put at Drake's disposal four Royal Naval galleons: the Elizabeth Bonaventure, which was under Drake's own command; Golden Lion, captained by William Burroughs; Rainbow, under Captain Bellingham; and Dreadnought under Captain Thomas Fenner.

A raid on Cadiz, led by Francis Drake had captured or destroyed some thirty ships and great quantities of supplies, setting preparations back by a year

This record states: A Spanish treasure ship, returning from the Indies, was also captured.

This record states: Much of the Spanish fleet was destroyed, and substantial supplies were destroyed or captured.

This record states: Singeing the King of Spain's Beard is the name given in the Bay of Cadiz, by the English privateer Francis Drake against the Spanish naval forces assembling at Cadiz.

This record states: The damage caused by the English delayed Spanish plans to invade England by more than a year.

This record states: There followed a series of raiding parties against several forts along the Portuguese coast.

Says he has "singed the King's beard". Destroys 36 Spanish ships & intercepts barrel staves intended for the armada. Delays the Armada by 1 year

1,000 men disembarked at Lagos in the Algarve and stormed the fortresses of Sagres, Baleeira, Beliche and Cape St. Vincent

Negotiations were abandoned, and the English fleet stood prepared, if ill-supplied, at Plymouth, awaiting news of Spanish movements

As the tide turned, 55 English ships set out to confront them from Plymouth under the command of Lord Howard of Effingham, with Sir Francis Drake as Vice Admiral. Howard ceded some control to Drake, given his experience in battle. The rear admiral was Sir John Hawkins

Drake helps drive fireships toward the anchored Armada, forcing Spanish ships to scatter before the Gravelines fighting.

The two fleets sight each other off Dodman Point

Drake is waiting in Plymouth with 14 galleons & 50 other vessels

The Spanish Armada is defeated by an English naval force under command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake off the coast of Gravelines, now in France

The English and Spanish fleets again engage off the coast of Flanders, the English again are more successful

Drake joins the pursuit as the damaged Armada moves away from Flanders into the North Sea.

Elizabeth I launched the Counter Armada, under Sir Francis Drake, but it was unsuccessful in its goals, resulting in Philip II retaining naval superiority

The English attempted to press home their advantage the following year after defeating the 1st Spanish Armada when the Drake–Norris Expedition of 1589.

This expedition, led by Sir Francis Drake and John Norreys raided Corunna but withdrew from Lisbon after failing to coordinate its strategy effectively with the Portuguese.

with a comparable fleet of English privateers, sailed to establish a base in the Azores, attack Spain, and raise a revolt in Portugal.

The English attempted to press home their advantage the following year after defeating the 1st Spanish Armada when the Drake–Norris Expedition of 1589.

This expedition, led by Sir Francis Drake and John Norreys raided Corunna but withdrew from Lisbon after failing to coordinate its strategy effectively with the Portuguese.

with a comparable fleet of English privateers, sailed to establish a base in the Azores, attack Spain, and raise a revolt in Portugal.

Dies of dysentery on board his ship

The blockade fails to secure the Spanish treasure fleet

The blockade does not achieve its objective of trapping or securing the Spanish treasure fleet at Cadiz.