Famous English pirate Francis Drake began to engage in pirate adventures at the age of 26, in 1567. Even in his youth, he was one of the members of the Hawkins expedition. On May 24, 1572, Drake set out from Plymouth on his next voyage. He decided to carry it out on his own ship "Sevan". Francis' younger brother, John, was entrusted with the management of another ship, the Pasha. Drake during this campaign and other voyages made pirate raids in the Caribbean near the island of Pinos (today it is the island of Youth) and off the coast of Cuba.
Francis returned after numerous "exploits" to England on November 3, 1580. Queen Elizabeth met him with great honors. She even presented the pirate with a sword, on which was the inscription that if Drake was hit, it meant that the whole kingdom was hit. Elizabeth granted Francis the title of sir. He became an Admiral of the British Navy and a Member of Parliament. Strange, isn't it? However, Francis Drake deserved all this. In the autumn of 1580, he returned not just from a pirate campaign. Francistraveled around the world. After reading this article, you will find out what Francis Drake discovered and what are the results of his expedition. We will also elaborate on how this famous journey took place.
Interestingly, no one instructed him to circumnavigate the world, and the pirate himself did not plan it. In those days, many geographical discoveries were made by accident, as a result of unforeseen circumstances.
Preparing for sailing
Francis Drake in the fall of 1577 completed preparations for a pirate campaign. He planned to go to the Pacific (western) coast of South America. The preparations were carried out not without the help of influential patrons, among whom was Queen Elizabeth herself. The plan of the campaign was simple: the Spaniards did not expect an attack on the western coast of South America either from the sea or from land. Consequently, coastal settlements and ships can be robbed with near impunity.
Out to sea, stop at San Julian
The ships of Francis Drake (there were 4 in total) at the end of 1577 left Plymouth. Already in April of the following year, the pirates reached the mouth of the river. La Platy. After a brief h alt, they headed south. Pirates proceeded along the coast of Patagonia. This is the name of the part of modern Argentina, stretching from the Strait of Magellan to the riverbed. Rio Negro. In the bay of San Julian, located in the south of Patagonia, Francis' flotilla decided to make a stop. Incidentally, it is known that in thisMagellan wintered in the bay in June - October 1520
Difficulties faced by the team
After this stop, the flotilla went on, however, already in the composition of three ships. The fact is that one ship became out of order and was burned on the orders of Drake. Soon the travelers reached the Strait of Magellan. Its winding and complex fairway was hardly overcome in 20 days. The sailors suffered from the cold. It was July, and this is the coldest month in the Southern Hemisphere. Finally, the team entered the Pacific Ocean and continued north to the tropics. Suddenly, the pirates were overtaken by a strong storm. One ship out of three was missing. Most likely, he crashed and drowned somewhere in the ocean. Another ship re-entered the Strait of Magellan. The pirates sailing on this ship managed to return to England. Only one ship remained. It was Francis Drake's flagship, the Golden Hind.
How Drake made the discovery
The ship was far to the south after the storm. Francis Drake noticed that Tierra del Fuego ends here. To the south of it is a boundless ocean. So, by chance, an important geographical discovery was made. It became clear that Tierra del Fuego is an island. Previously it was believed that this is part of the Unknown Land. What Francis Drake discovered was of great importance. Later, the strait between Antarctica and South America was deservedly called the Drake Passage.
Attacks on Spanish ships, rich booty
The ocean has finally calmed down and the weather has improved. Noticing this, Francis Drake decided to continue what he had begun.expedition. The pirate sent his only ship north. Feeling the proximity of the subtropics, the team perked up. The sailors began to forget the hardships of the journey, which they experienced in the Tierra del Fuego region, after the first Spanish ships appeared. As a result of attacks on them, the holds of the "Golden Doe" gradually began to be filled with jewelry and gold.
Drake did not take the life of those he robbed without urgent need. Because of this, his pirate operations went through with little to no casu alties on his crew. Drake established almost friendly relations with the Chilean Indians. The availability of wine, food and women from local tribes, rich booty became a reward for the hardships and dangers experienced before. Drake captured a Spanish galleon that was carrying jewelry and gold from the American colonies to the Spanish treasury. Not every pirate could boast of such luck. The riches obtained were so great that there was nowhere to ship them. It was necessary to return to their homeland, but how?
Return trip
Of course, Francis did not know, and could not know about the plans of the Spaniards. However, being an experienced captain, he was able to foresee that the Spanish ships, intending to destroy him, would go through the Strait of Magellan towards them. And so it happened. It was necessary to save people, themselves and the stolen jewelry. And what did Francis Drake do? He decided to head north, moving along the west coast of America. The length of this path is amazing. Drake passed by sea from Tierra del Fuego (of course, stoppingseveral times ashore) along the coast of Peru and Chile, past the lands of Mexico and Central America, along the western coast of the modern USA. In the end, he reached 48 degrees north latitude, that is, he reached the US border with present-day Canada. In total, the length of this path is at least 20 thousand km, since the ship did not move strictly along the meridian. The ship rounded the shores of both Americas.
Further and further to the west the shore deviated. Fleeing from persecution, Francis was probably ready to get to the Atlantic Ocean, rounding North America. However, this was not possible, because the pirate did not know if there was such a way. There was only one way out - to turn west, ending up in the expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Heading southwest, Drake reached the Mariana Islands after 3 months. After another 1, 5-2 months, his ship was already moving between the islands of the Moluccas archipelago. Drake in this area could well meet with Portuguese or Spanish warships. However, he was lucky to avoid these encounters.
The final leg of the journey
The next stage of the famous pirate's voyage can also be called unique in its kind. Drake's ship set off from the island of Java across the Indian Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope. Travelers, rounding this cape, moved to the north. They decided to sail along the western coast of Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. After some time, the pirates reached the Bay of Biscay. They arrived in Plymouth at the beginning of November 1580. Thus, the journeylasting 3 years turned out to be around the world.
Francis Drake Merits
Pirate Francis Drake is the second captain after F. Magellan, who managed to circumnavigate the world. However, he was much more fortunate than his predecessor. After all, Magellan did not get to Portugal. He died in a skirmish with the natives, which took place in the Philippine Islands. 1.5 years after his death, the only surviving ship was brought to Lisbon by crew members who managed to survive.
Francis Drake's achievements were not only that he managed to save his life in a dangerous and long voyage. He brought back most of the sailors of the Golden Doe. In addition, Francis Drake's galleon, under the personal command of the captain, was brought to the port of Plymouth (England). In addition, there was a large cargo of gold and various jewelry on the ship.
Immediately after this voyage (1577-1580), Francis Drake from a simple pirate, as he was a few years ago, turned into a respected admiral of the British fleet. The Queen of England herself rendered him every honor. Francis Drake's discoveries were appreciated.
After that, Francis went to sea many times. He fought with the Spanish ships. Francis in 1588 participated in repelling the attack of the Spanish Invincible Armada. The battle ended in victory for the British. The famous pirate died in 1596, having gone on another trip a year earlier. In the Caribbean, he died of dysentery.
Drake Passage
To this day, the wide strait connecting the South Shetland Islands and Tierra del Fuego is named after this pirate. An ignorant person may think that this is some kind of misunderstanding or historical curiosity. But now, when we know all the circumstances of this case, we can say with confidence that there is no mistake. That's right, because Drake did a lot for his homeland. But not only for her. What Francis Drake did for geography is no less, perhaps more important.
