An Informative Essay: Sir Francis Drake

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Sir Francis Drake: An Informative Essay
Francis Drake was born during the years 1540 and 1544 in Devonshire, England. He was involved in piracy and illicit slave trading. Later on in 1577, he was chosen as the leader of an expedition. The expedition was intended to pass around South America, through the Strait of Magellan, and explore the coast that lay beyond. Francis Drake became known as a leading privateer after being recognized by Queen Elizabeth (Biography.com Editors).
In his early years, Drake became apprenticed to a merchant. He sailed the coasts and traded goods between France and England. According to Biography.com Editors, in “Francis Drake Biography,” Drake was eventually apprenticed to a merchant who sailed coastal waters trading goods between England and France (Biography.com Editors). The article also states that he took to navigation well and was soon enlisted by his relatives (Biography.com Editors). They were privateers who prowled the shipping lanes off the French coast, seizing merchant ships (Biography.com Editors). Throughout the year 1585 and 1586, England and Spain developed a more …show more content…

Captain Drake attacked the Spanish army many times, mainly by order from Queen Elizabeth I. The article “Sir Francis Drake,” by Ernle Bradford, states that his life was dedicated to self-aggrandizement and revenge directed at Spain. However, his legend influenced English self-perceptions, for he was credited with feats of sangfroid, unflappability, improvisation, tenacity, and fair play, most of which have little or no basis in fact (Bradford). According to “Francis Drake”, by History.com Staff, Spain, his life-long, starkest foe, saw repeated devastation for he relentlessly sacked and plundered Spanish cities off the coast of Florida. He also sailed to North America and claimed new land on the Pacific coast for Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe (History.com