Francis Drake's Circumnavigation

What happened

Between 1577 and 1580 the English captain and privateer Francis Drake sailed around the world, raiding Spanish ships and ports along the way and claiming part of the California coast for England. He was the first Englishman — and the second commander ever — to circle the globe.

Why it matters

Drake's voyage announced England as a rising sea power and marked the entry of northern European nations into the contest for overseas empire.

Sources

• The Mariners' Museum — Ages of Exploration. Francis Drake · Reputable source