The Historic Tale of Sir Francis Drake
A wise man once said, “There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory” (Means 1). This influential man was none other than one of the most prominent explorers Sir Francis Drake.This quote, in my opinion, expresses Drake’s determination to see everything he does through to the end, especially his apprehensible voyages to near ends of the earth. This quote was documented during the chapter of Drake’s life when he effectuated his circumnavigation of the world, that was, in all likelihood, one of the most awe- inspiring naval feats of his time (Means 1). Sir Francis Drake was an influential figure in world history because …show more content…
When Drake was 18 his grandfather, John Drake III who was a great explorer in his own right, indoctrinated him into the Hawkins family fleet which was, in most people’s opinion, the start of his adventurous career as a great explorer (Ernie 1). This fleet sailed across the outer French coasts including parts of Spain and Italy (Ernie 1). By the 1960’s he went into the African slave trade which his family had an increasing interest in. Drake, being the noble man he was, felt very strongly on the subject of slavery. He felt that it was immoral for one man to say he is better than another just by the color of their skin. But drake soon realized all the money involved in that industry and went along with his family’s financial opportunity. In despite of his gipsy like lifestyle, he settled down and married Mary Newman in Plymouth England 1569. Right after he gained command of his own ship in 1568, he became an importer of tobacco and transported large sums to many different countries. Although many seamen during Drakes lifetime earned money as privateers for navies, he was rolling in over double the average sailor’s income. Ironically, he made it a point to free all of the slaves used on the ship, he even bought some slaves freedom from their …show more content…
They never had any children, and they were only married a short 12 years, most of which Drake spent at sea. But Drake had little time to sob about his now ex-wife, he was soon sent off on a military expedition to the West Indies to eradicate to Spanish held forts there. Drake was an instrumental force in England fight against Spain in the West Indies (Means 1). The two ships he took were the 70 ton “Pasha” and the 25 ton “Swan”. Knowing of Drake’s piracy the British authorities claimed to regulate the colonies trade with Drake. But Drake described them as “wrongs” he had suffered during his expeditions. “Wrongs” he was determined to right in the years to come. His voyage ended disastrously at San Juan de Ulua off the coast of Mexico. When the English interlopers were attacked by the Spanish and most were killed. Drake escaped during the attack and returned to England in command of a small vessel the “Judith” with determination to get his revenge on Spain and the Spanish king, Philip II. Although the expedition was a financial failure, it brought Drake to the attention of Queen Elizabeth I, who, herself, invested in the slave trading venture. Although Drake was wounded in the attack, which failed, he and his men managed to get away with a great deal of plunder by successfully attacking a silver filled mule train. In the same year, 1581, Drake was made mayor of Plymouth, an office he
A wise man once said, “There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory” (Means 1). This influential man was none other than one of the most prominent explorers Sir Francis Drake.This quote, in my opinion, expresses Drake’s determination to see everything he does through to the end, especially his apprehensible voyages to near ends of the earth. This quote was documented during the chapter of Drake’s life when he effectuated his circumnavigation of the world, that was, in all likelihood, one of the most awe- inspiring naval feats of his time (Means 1). Sir Francis Drake was an influential figure in world history because …show more content…
When Drake was 18 his grandfather, John Drake III who was a great explorer in his own right, indoctrinated him into the Hawkins family fleet which was, in most people’s opinion, the start of his adventurous career as a great explorer (Ernie 1). This fleet sailed across the outer French coasts including parts of Spain and Italy (Ernie 1). By the 1960’s he went into the African slave trade which his family had an increasing interest in. Drake, being the noble man he was, felt very strongly on the subject of slavery. He felt that it was immoral for one man to say he is better than another just by the color of their skin. But drake soon realized all the money involved in that industry and went along with his family’s financial opportunity. In despite of his gipsy like lifestyle, he settled down and married Mary Newman in Plymouth England 1569. Right after he gained command of his own ship in 1568, he became an importer of tobacco and transported large sums to many different countries. Although many seamen during Drakes lifetime earned money as privateers for navies, he was rolling in over double the average sailor’s income. Ironically, he made it a point to free all of the slaves used on the ship, he even bought some slaves freedom from their …show more content…
They never had any children, and they were only married a short 12 years, most of which Drake spent at sea. But Drake had little time to sob about his now ex-wife, he was soon sent off on a military expedition to the West Indies to eradicate to Spanish held forts there. Drake was an instrumental force in England fight against Spain in the West Indies (Means 1). The two ships he took were the 70 ton “Pasha” and the 25 ton “Swan”. Knowing of Drake’s piracy the British authorities claimed to regulate the colonies trade with Drake. But Drake described them as “wrongs” he had suffered during his expeditions. “Wrongs” he was determined to right in the years to come. His voyage ended disastrously at San Juan de Ulua off the coast of Mexico. When the English interlopers were attacked by the Spanish and most were killed. Drake escaped during the attack and returned to England in command of a small vessel the “Judith” with determination to get his revenge on Spain and the Spanish king, Philip II. Although the expedition was a financial failure, it brought Drake to the attention of Queen Elizabeth I, who, herself, invested in the slave trading venture. Although Drake was wounded in the attack, which failed, he and his men managed to get away with a great deal of plunder by successfully attacking a silver filled mule train. In the same year, 1581, Drake was made mayor of Plymouth, an office he