On January 28, 1596, Sir Francis Drake, a famous English sailor, was buried at sea near Panama. He had returned to this area to disrupt Spanish activities and gain wealth for England. Despite his success in burning the town of Nombre de Dios, his life ended not in battle but due to an illness called dysentery. His final resting place and his treasures remain a mystery.
Today, we’re diving into the adventurous life of Sir Francis Drake, England’s most famous privateer. Drake was a thorn in the side of the Spanish, earning the nickname “El Drake,” which means “the Dragon” in Spanish. King Philip II of Spain even offered a huge reward for capturing him, equivalent to over $8 million today. Over his 30-year career at sea, Drake reportedly sank more than 25 Spanish ships and seized treasures worth around $510 million in today’s money.
Drake was born around 1540 on a farm in Plymouth, England. At 13, he started learning about sailing with Captain William Hawkins. From 1560 to 1568, he sailed with John Hawkins, William’s cousin. During this time, Spain and Portugal controlled the slave trade, but Hawkins wanted to involve the British. He and Drake became the first English slave traders, a troubling part of history. Even though Queen Elizabeth I asked Hawkins to stop to avoid conflict with Spain and Portugal, he secretly continued, sending other captains like John Lovell, with Drake joining these illegal voyages.
In 1571, Drake, now wealthy from the slave trade, set sail for Panama on his ship, the Swan. Panama was a crucial spot for Spanish trade, where treasures from the Incan Empire were transported across land from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Drake and his crew began attacking Spanish ships in the area, especially along the Tacos River. They found a perfect hiding spot in a cove about 90 miles from the main Spanish port. Drake’s success worried the Spanish, who reported to King Philip that their trade was suffering.
After gathering loot, Drake returned to England. Although his actions weren’t officially approved, the government was impressed by the wealth he brought back. In May 1572, Drake set sail for Panama again, this time with two ships and 72 men, and with the crown’s approval.
In July, Drake and his men attacked Nombre de Dios, a town filled with treasures. During the raid, Drake was injured, and his men, fearing for his life, retreated. After recovering, Drake teamed up with cimarrones, escaped African slaves, and a French privateer named Guillerm Le Testu, who wanted revenge against the Spanish.
In March 1573, they ambushed a large mule train carrying silver. They overpowered the guards and captured 190 mules, each carrying about 300 pounds of silver, totaling around $57,000 in silver and 1,320 pounds of gold, worth about $16 million today. This was one of Drake’s most profitable raids.
Drake shared some of the loot with Le Testu, who was injured in the ambush. Drake returned to England in August 1573, but Le Testu was eventually captured by the Spanish. Upon his return, Drake found tensions between Spain and England and was advised to keep a low profile.
Not much is known about Drake’s activities in the following years, but he reappeared in July 1575 during an attack on Rockall Island. Although his ships didn’t join the attack, they were there to prevent help from reaching the defenders.
Two years later, Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to sail around the world, becoming a hero in England. We don’t have time to explore his global journey now, but stay tuned for more exciting stories. Who’s your favorite pirate from history? Let us know in the comments! Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more amazing Nutty History content!
Research and create a detailed timeline of Sir Francis Drake’s life. Include key events such as his early life, major voyages, and significant battles. Use online resources and your textbook to gather information. Present your timeline on a poster or digitally using a tool like Canva.
Using a world map, trace the route taken by Sir Francis Drake during his circumnavigation of the globe. Mark important stops and events along the way. You can use different colors to indicate different parts of the journey and add notes about what happened at each location.
Divide into two groups. One group will argue that Sir Francis Drake was a hero for England, while the other will argue that he was a pirate. Research both perspectives and prepare your arguments. Hold a debate in class, presenting your points and counterpoints.
Imagine you are a crew member on one of Drake’s ships. Write a diary entry describing a day in your life at sea. Include details about the challenges you face, your thoughts on Drake’s leadership, and your feelings about the raids on Spanish ships.
Create a wanted poster for Sir Francis Drake from the perspective of the Spanish. Include a drawing or image of Drake, a list of his “crimes,” and the reward offered by King Philip II. Use creative design elements to make your poster visually appealing.
On January 28, 1596, the now-deceased Sir Francis Drake was lowered into the water off the coast of Panama. He had returned to the same region where he made his first independent voyage, this time to disrupt Spanish operations, capture as much loot as possible, and provide England with a strategic foothold in the Americas. He had just burned the town of Nombre de Dios to the ground. This victory was short-lived; the controversial figure was taken out not by a bullet or a sword, but by dysentery. His watery grave and his treasure have never been found.
Welcome back to Nutty History! Today, we’re exploring the secret voyages of Sir Francis Drake, England’s most famous privateer. Sir Francis Drake terrorized the Spanish throughout the Atlantic and the Americas to the point where they nicknamed him “El Drake,” Spanish for “the Dragon.” King Philip II of Spain put out a huge reward for the notorious privateer, dead or alive, amounting to over $8 million in today’s dollars. Over the course of his 30 years at sea, Drake reportedly sank more than 25 Spanish ships and looted massive amounts of gold, silver, and jewels, totaling approximately $510 million in today’s U.S. currency, possibly even more.
Drake came from humble beginnings, born on a farm in Plymouth, England, around 1540. He began apprenticing and sailing along the English coast under Captain William Hawkins when he was just 13. From 1560 to 1568, Drake sailed under Hawkins’ cousin, John Hawkins. Spain and Portugal had a monopoly on the slave trade, and Hawkins aimed to involve the British. He and Drake became the first English slave traders, a troubling milestone. Hawkins made a considerable fortune, but Queen Elizabeth I did not want to risk war with Spain or Portugal, so she asked him to stop. Instead, Hawkins covertly sent a captain named John Lovell in his place, and Drake sailed with him on these illegal voyages.
In 1571, Drake, now fairly wealthy from the slave trade, set out toward Panama on his ship, the Swan. The Isthmus of Panama, where the Panama Canal now cuts through, separates the Atlantic and Pacific by just 50 miles of land. It was a key spot for Spanish trade, where gold and riches pillaged from the crumbling Incan Empire were transported by mule trains from the Pacific to the Atlantic and then off to Spain.
Drake and 20 men began pillaging Spanish ships in the area, primarily along the Tacos River, which flowed from the Atlantic into Central Panama. They found a great hideout in a small protected cove about 90 miles east of the main Spanish port. Drake was so successful that a Spanish official wrote to King Philip, complaining that they were fully in control of the coast of Nombre de Dios, Cartagena, Tolu, Santa Maria, and Cabo de la Vela, and that trade and commerce were diminishing.
After accumulating plunder, Drake and his men headed back to England, landing in Plymouth uncertain of their future since their escapades had not been sanctioned by the crown. However, when the government saw the amount of loot they brought back, they were eager for more. In May 1572, Drake set sail for Panama again, this time with two ships and 72 men, and with the official consent of the crown.
In July, Drake and his men arrived outside Nombre de Dios and raided the town, which was filled with gold, silver, and jewels. During the raid, Drake was hit in the leg by a bullet, and his men, fearing for their leader’s life, abandoned the assault. Drake recovered, but with the element of surprise lost, he had to get creative. He made friends with a group of cimarrones—escaped African slaves—who banded together outside the Spanish settlements in Panama. Also joining him was a French privateer named Guillerm Le Testu, who sought revenge against the Spanish for the persecution of Protestants.
In March 1573, Drake and his allies ambushed a massive mule train carrying silver. They overpowered the Spanish guards and captured 190 mules, each carrying around 300 pounds of silver, totaling approximately $57,000 in silver and 1,320 pounds of gold, worth about $16 million in today’s U.S. currency. This raid was one of the most profitable of Drake’s career.
After sharing some of the loot with Le Testu, who was wounded in the ambush, Drake returned to England in August 1573. Le Testu, however, was eventually caught by the Spanish and made an example of. Upon returning, Drake found that Spanish-British relations were strained, and the queen advised him to lay low for a while.
Not much is known about Drake’s whereabouts in the following years, but he resurfaced in July 1575 during an attack on Rockall Island, which was occupied by Scots and Irish. Although records indicate that Drake’s ships did not participate in the attack, they were tasked with preventing aid from reaching the defenders.
Two years later, Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, rising to fame in England. We don’t have time to delve into his journey around the world, so stay tuned for more. Who’s your favorite pirate from history? Let us know in the comments below! As always, thanks for watching, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more amazing Nutty History content!
Drake – A famous English sea captain and privateer known for his voyages around the world and raids on Spanish ships in the late 16th century. – Sir Francis Drake was celebrated in England for his daring raids on Spanish treasure ships during the Elizabethan era.
Panama – A country in Central America that was a key location for trade routes and the construction of the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. – The construction of the Panama Canal in the early 20th century revolutionized global trade by significantly reducing the travel time for ships.
Treasure – Valuable items such as gold, silver, and jewels that were often sought after by explorers and pirates during the Age of Exploration. – Many explorers set sail in search of treasure, hoping to find riches in the New World.
Spanish – Relating to Spain, its people, or its language, especially during the period of Spanish exploration and colonization in the Americas. – The Spanish Empire expanded rapidly in the 16th century, establishing colonies throughout the Americas.
Sailing – The act of traveling by sea using ships or boats, which was a crucial part of exploration and trade in history. – Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, explorers like Columbus opened new routes for trade and colonization.
Empire – A group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or government, often established through conquest and colonization. – The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in ancient history.
Privateer – A private person or ship authorized by a government to attack foreign ships during wartime, often used during the Age of Exploration. – Privateers played a significant role in naval warfare by disrupting enemy trade and capturing valuable cargo.
Raid – A sudden attack on an enemy by troops, ships, or aircraft, often to seize goods or cause damage. – The Viking raids on coastal villages in Europe were feared for their speed and brutality.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, which helps us understand how societies have evolved over time. – Learning about history allows us to understand the causes and effects of major events and decisions in the past.
Trade – The exchange of goods and services between people or countries, which has been a fundamental part of human societies throughout history. – The Silk Road was an ancient trade route that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods and culture.
