Born to a puritan preacher around 1540, Francis Drake began his sailing career as navigator on a small merchant vessel. Later he became an officer on a West African slave ship.

In 1567, whilst sailing from the Caribbean to Mexico, Drake and his cousin, John Hawkins, were defeated in battle by a Spanish Armada. They lost all of their vessels and from that time forward Francis Drake had a deep hatred towards all Spaniards.

Over the next few years Drake befriended escaped African slaves around the Caribbean. He vollected them together and they went with him into battle against the Spanish around the region.

In 1572 John Hawkins gave Drake 73 sailors and 2 ships. With these, and a privateers commission from Queen Elizabeth I, he sailed to America in under 3 weeks. After a failed attack on Nombre de Dios (present day Nicaragua), Drake succeeded in attacking a Spanish caravel carrying gold. This brough him some small fame and fortune. Continua »