The Life and Accomplishments of Sir Francis Drake Essay

The Life and Accomplishments of Sir Francis Drake The British Empire was a World dominant force throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th century, but if it wasn’t for the naval defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, the British might have never settled what would be the United States. And the person we have to thank is none other than Sir Francis Drake, a common man whose rise from a small country town, to the mighty dragon that the Spanish feared, was the most brilliant Captain during the Elizabethan Era. Sir Francis Drake’s privateering in the Caribbean and the Pacific were the staging grounds for the destruction of the Spanish Armada and the Rise of the British Empire. It was in the Caribbean where Drake inflicted is greatest defeats†¦show more content†¦It is my belief that Francis Drake’s motivation for the attacks on the Spanish monarchy are a indirect result of the attacks on the Protestants by the Roman Catholics in England at that time. Furthermore the adventual destruction of the Spanish Armada is t he result of these attacks on the Spanish shipping in which Protestant Captains like Drake were directly responsible. The underlying reason for the Spanish and English war is the clash of Two European religions in Europe and the new world; among other things like wealth and power. Their are three cruises that show his brilliant seamanship and great leadership, but these cruises show also that he wasn’t one to stick his orders and follow his plans. This is the reason why he was so great, his ability to improvise. But before we look at his seamanship practices we need to look at his early years to understand his reasoning behind his hatred for the Spanish and their religion. This hatred would help him be one of the most successful privateers of the time. Francis Drake was born on a farm, at Crowndale, near Tavistock in Devon, in the last years of Henry VIII, some time between 1540 and 1545. Some say more precisely around 1543. His father, Edmund Drake, a seaman before he married, and after he settled down was a farmer. InShow MoreRelatedElizabethan Pirates Essay1092 Words   |  5 Pagesthis, they accomplished very large feats. If they hadn’t worked together, winning the war would have been extremely difficult. The teamwork of the privateers is what intimidated the King of Spain and allowed them to severely damage the Armada (Sir Francis Drake). The unity of the privateers with the Royal English Navy also had a large impact on the war. If England was to win, teamwork between the Navy and the privateers was very important. If they hadn’t gotten along, several battles could have beenRead MoreFrancis Drake Essay1792 Words   |  8 Pagesname of Francis Drake for a meeting that was deeply shrouded in secrecy. Details rega rding this meeting were kept from the public eye for many years, until well after the death of Francis Drake. 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