Francis Drake Biography and Timeline

Circumnavigation

Drake is the 1st English Commander to reach the Pacific

Siege of Nombre de Dios

Drake successfully ambushes a Spanish treasure convoy in Panama

Circumnavigation

Sets sail in the Golden Hind

Role range: 1577-1580

Circumnavigation

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

Circumnavigation

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

Role range: 1577-1580

Circumnavigation

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

Role range: 1577-1580

Circumnavigation

The fleet passes through the straits of Magellan

Role range: 1577-1580

Circumnavigation

Sails from Chile to California then across the Pacific

Role range: 1577-1580

Discovery of California

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

Role range: 1577-1580

Rule of California

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

Role range: 1577-1580

Rule of New Albion

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

Role range: 1577-1580

Knighthood

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

Circumnavigation

Rounds the Cape of Good Hope

Role range: 1577-1580

Circumnavigation

1st person to complete the circumnavigation of the World

Role range: 1577-1580

Circumnavigation

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

Mayor

Appointed Mayor of Plymouth

Role range: 1581-1581

Discovery of Potatoes

Returns to England with potato & tobacco

Discovery of Tobacco

Returns to England with potato & tobacco

Invasion of England

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Piracy

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Piracy

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.

Role range: 1585-1604

Piracy

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Piracy

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.

Role range: 1585-1604

Siege of Cadiz

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Singeing the King of Spains Beard

A Spanish treasure ship, returning from the Indies, was also captured.

Role range: 1585-1604

Singeing the King of Spains Beard

Much of the Spanish fleet was destroyed, and substantial supplies were destroyed or captured.

Role range: 1585-1604

Singeing the King of Spains Beard

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.

Role range: 1585-1604

Singeing the King of Spains Beard

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Singeing the King of Spains Beard

There followed a series of raiding parties against several forts along the Portuguese coast.

Role range: 1585-1604

Siege of Andalusia

Destroys the Andalusian fishing industry which would supply the Armada

Role range: 1585-1604

Siege of Cadiz

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Siege of Lagos

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Invasion of England

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Spanish Armada, 1st

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Battle off Plymouth

Drake and other English commanders attack the Armada off Plymouth, using longer-range gunnery while avoiding the close grappling combat favoured by Spain.

Role range: c.1540-1596 – 1558-1603

Calais Fireships Disrupt Armada off Flanders

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Spanish Armada, 1st

The two fleets sight each other off Dodman Point

Role range: 1585-1604

Spanish Armada, 1st

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Battle of Gravelines

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

Role range: 1585-1604

Battle of Flanders Coast

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

Role range: 1585-1604