HAIVKINS, SIR JOHN, a distinguished seaman of the reign of Elizabeth, was born at Plymouth, about 1520. His youth was spent in trading to Spain, Portugal, and the Canaries; and the information and experience which he thus obtained made him well aware of the gain to he derived from supplying the Spanish colonies with slaves from Guinea. With the assistance of some merchants, he fitted out a small squadron in 1562, and obtained, partly by purchase, partly by force, a cargo of 300 negroes, whom he carried to Hispaniola, and there sold. This, we believe, was the first adventure of Englishmen in that inhuman traffic. He made a second voyage iu 1564, and a third in 1567 : the latter turned out unfortunately. All trade between the Spanish settlements and foreigners being prohibited by the mother-country, though often, from interested motives, connived at by those in power, he wag at last attacked by the Spanish authorities in the port of S. Juan de Ulloa, and saved but two ships of his squa dron, with which, after suffering great hardships, he returned to Deg land in January 1563. This seems to have been his last commercial enterprise. The queen's approbation of his services, and sanction of that abomination, which, after the lapse of more than two centuries, the tardy voice of Europe has branded as piracy, was couveyed in the expressive grant to wear at his crest "a derny-mour iu his proper colour, bound with a cord." In 1573 Hawkins was appointed treasurer
of the navy. In 1583 he served as rear-admiral against the Spanish armada [see notice of the Armada under ELMSBETII] • and his bravery on this occasion was rewarded by Elizabeth with the honour of knight hood. Being sent with Frobisher in 1590 to intercept the Plate fleet and harass the trade of Spain, he failed In the first object, but succeeded in the second. In 1595 he was appointed, jointly with Drake, to command a more Important expeditiou against the Spanish settlements In the West Indies. The enterprise proved fatal to both theses hitherto successful commanders. They disagreed upon the conduct of operations, and soon Neparated. [Drum Hawkins died November 21, 1595. chiefly, it was supposed, through annoyance and agitation ; and Drake expired in the following month. Sir John Hawkins sat in parliament for Plymouth, mid founded an hospital at Chatham for poor and sick seamen.