The Circumnavigation of the Earth by Sir Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake (1540 – 1596) layer the foundation of Britain's proud naval tradition by circumnavigating the world from from 1577 to 1580.

Video

Date: 13 Dec 1577 – 26 Sep 1580
Location: Earth
Events: Drake circumnavigates the earth & leads a successful campaign against Spain

Growing contrast between the Catholic Spain & the Protestant England on a religious level (see also: The English Reformation)
From 1492: After Christopher Columbus discovers America Spain becomes the hegemonial naval & colonial power
1562 – 1563: Sir John Hawkins starts the English sea trade & raids against Spanish ships & overseas possessions
- Drake accompanies Hawkins on this & further expeditions
From 1572: Drake undertakes own expeditions
Naval conflict between Spain & England

15 Nov 1577: Drake leaves Plymouth but must return to repair his ships after a storm
13 Dec 1577: Drake leaves Plymouth aboard Pelican & 4 other ships (Elizabeth, Marigold, Christopher & Swan)
30 Jan 1578: Near Cap Verde Drake captures the Portuguese ship Santa Maria which joins the squadron under the name of Mary
Christopher & Swan have to be scuttled because of the high number of lost sailors
18 Jun 1578: Drake reaches San Julian & decides to stay for the winter
Drake burns the Mary because she is rotten
02 Jul 1578: Drake tries & executes his friend Thomas Dougherty for mutiny
Drake’s famous motivational speech: „...I must have the gentleman to haul and draw with the mariner, and the mariner with the gentleman...“
17 Aug 1578: Drake’s fleet leaves San Julian & enters the Magellan Strait on 20 Aug; here he renames his flag ship Golden Hind
06 Sep 1578: Drake enters the Pacific
The Marigold sinks & the Elizabeth returns to England because of bad weather so that the Golden Hind is the only remaining ship
05 Dec 1578: Raid on Valparaiso & other Spanish ships & ports
01 Mar 1579: Capture of the Cagafuego (Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion) which is fully loaded with gold & silver
17 Jun 1579: Drake reaches the Californian coast
03 Nov 1579: Drake reaches the Moluccas
26 Mar 1580: Drake reaches Java
22 Jul 1580: Drake reaches Sierra Leone
26 Sep 1580: Return to Plymouth
04 Apr 1581: Drake is knighted

The circumnavigation of the earth is a massive economic success:
- England’s budget is secured for the following years
- Spain suffers substantial losses
Apparent Forerunner of the (undeclared) Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604)
Sir Francis Drake becomes a national hero
Sir Francis Drake achieves great influence in politics & the Royal Navy
Sir Francis Drake sets the basis for the ethos & the command structure of the Royal Navy, esp. through his actions in San Julian:
- The commander of a ship or fleet enjoys absolute authority at sea
- All members of the Royal Navy must fulfil their duties & work together independent of social origin or societal rank
First sign of England’s rise to global naval supremacy