Sir Francis Drake

Portrait of Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake, vice admiral (C1540-1596) was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. He made the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580, and was the first to complete the voyage as captain while leading the expedition throughout the entire circumnavigation. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He died of dysentery in January 1596 after unsuccessfully attacking San Juan, Puerto Rico. His exploits made him a hero to the English but a pirate to the Spaniards, to whom he was known as El Draque.