Francis Drake Departs Plymouth on Global Voyage
Queen Elizabeth I secretly authorized English seaman Francis Drake to raid Spanish treasure fleets and explore Pacific routes amid Anglo-Spanish rivalries. On December 13, 1577, Drake sailed from Plymouth with five ships and 164 men, including the flagship Pelican (later renamed Golden Hind). After crossing the Atlantic and navigating the Straits of Magellan, storms scattered the fleet; only the Golden Hind reached the Pacific. Drake raided Spanish settlements along South America's west coast, captured a richly laden treasure galleon, and continued north to present-day California, claiming land as Nova Albion for the queen. He then crossed the Pacific, rounded Africa, and returned to Plymouth on September 26, 1580, completing the first English circumnavigation.
Why it matters: Drake's voyage challenged Spanish dominance of the Pacific and Pacific trade routes, boosting English naval confidence and bringing substantial wealth to Elizabeth's treasury. It established Drake as a national hero and privateer who later helped defeat the Spanish Armada. The expedition expanded European geographic knowledge and fueled England's emergence as a maritime power.