DRAKE, Sir FRANCIS, was b. about the year 1539, in a cottage on the banks of the Tavy, in Devonshire. His father was a yeoman, and had a family of twelve sons. He was a zealous Protestant, and during the persecution underq ueen Mary, he fled from Devonshire into Kent, in which co. his family was brought up. He obtained some kind of clerical appointment among the sea-faring men of the district, and in consequence, D.'s younger yetkrs were passed among sailors. He was at au early age apprenticed to a neighbor of his father's, who possessed a bark, and occasionally made to Zealand and France. When his master died, D. fell heir to the vessel, and carried on the old trade with considerable success. While coasting about, he heard of the exploits of Hawkins in the new world, and the recital took such a hold of his imagination, that selling his ship, he proceeded to Plymouth, and joined Hawkins in his last expedition to the Spanish main. The adventure was disastrous to all concerned, and D. came home much poorer than when he set out. Undismayed, hewever, he gathered around him wild and reckless spirits, and having raised sufficient money, they fitted out a ves sel, and under the command of D., made several voyages to the West 'Indies. In 1570, he obtained a commission from queen Elizabeth, and cruised • in the West Indies, enrich. ing himself with plunder. In 1572, he again sailed for the Spanish-main, and, assisted by some other English ships, he plundered the town of Nombre de Dios. He then crossed the isthmus of Darien, and beholding the Pacific, prayed God to grant him leave to sail an English ship in that sea. On Sunday, the 9th Aug., 1573, he came into Plymouth laden with spoil; and when the news spread of his arrival, the people forsook the preacher, and came out to gaze on the brave and successful sea-rover.
Under the sanction of queen Elizabeth, D. set'sail in 1577, taking with him five vessels. He sailed to South America, and plundered the coasts. In Sept. of that year he entered the Pacific. During his voyage, he was singularly successful. He sacked the Spanish towns on the coasts of Chili and Peru, and he captured a royal galleon laden with plate. He then steered for the n.e., hoping to find a passage back to the Atlantic; but the severity of the cold discouraged his crew, and he took shelter in Port Sau Francisco. He stayed there several weeks, and formally took possession of the country in the name of the queen of England. He then steered across the Pacific for the Moluccas; reaching Ternate, he sailed for Java, thence he stretched right across the Indian ocean for the cape of Good Hope, which he doubled in safety, and arrived at Plymouth on Sunday, the 26th Sept., 1579. He was graciously received at court.
Elizabeth banqueted on board his vessel, and conferred on him the honor of knight-. hood.
During part of 1585 and the whole of 1586, D. was employed, with a fleet of 21 ships, against Philip II. of Spain, chiefly in the West Indies and the coasts of South America. In this, as in his former voyages, he plundered many towns, and enriched himself with spoil. Miring this voyage, he visited Virginia, which colony had been recently planted by Raleigh. Thence he returned home, and it is said brought tobacco with him.
Spain was now preparing an armada for the invasion of England, and Elizabeth sent D. with a fleet of 30 sail to destroy the enemy's ships in their own harbors. He entered the roads. of Cadiz; passed the batteries on the morning of the 19th April, 1587, and before night, destroyed 100 vessels, and possessed himself of immense booty. He then sailed along the coast, burning and plundering. He entered the Tagus, and flouted the marquis Santa Cruz, who was lying in that river with a large force of galleys. done all the mischief in his power to Spain, D., with that keen appetite for plunder which never forsook him, steered for the Azores, on the look-out for homeward-bound treasure-ships. He was fortunate enough to encounter a richly laden carrack, of, which he took possession. On his return, he spent a considerable portion of his prize-money in supplying the town of Plymouth with water. .
D. was next employed as vice-admiral in the fleet under lord Howard, which scat tered the armada, and broke the naval supremacy of Spain. In 1589, he was sent td Portugal with a fleet, to expel the Spaniards, who had taken possession of that king dom; but the expedition was unsuccessful. On his return, he was elected member of parliament for Plymouth. In 1595, along with sir John Hawkins, he,was, sent with a fleet to the West Indies. In the course of the expedition, the commanders qu.arreted. Hawkins died before.reaching Puerto Rico. Attacking the place, D. received a repulse., Sailing away, he•burned and plundered, several towns. He came to anchor in Nombre de Dios, where a deadly disease broke out among the soldiers and sailors 'of-the fleet., D. was at last smitten, and after struggling 20 days with the malady, he expired on the 27th Dec., 1595. On the day of his death, the fleet anchored at Puerto Bello, and there the bold sailor and buccaneer.received his sea-funeral.