Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/24

 from the Gilberts and the Raleighs, about 1555. He was early inured to a seafaring life and distinguished himself by three voyages which he undertook for the discovery of a northwest passage between 1585-87. He discovered the great strait which bears his name, and sailed along the coast of Greenland. In 1571 he went as second in command with Cavendish in his unfortunate journey to the South Sea. lie afterwards made five voyages to the East Indies, and was killed in the last by some Japanese pirates in the straits of Malacca. December 27, 1605. He published various books on maritime subjects, and invented a quadrant which was invariably used for taking the sun's altitude at sea until it was superceded by Hadley's sextant.

Drake, Sir Francis, circumnavigator of the globe, and the most famous seaman of his age. His parentage is not certain, but he was probably a son of Robert Drake of Otterton, by his wife Agnes Kelloway. The date and place of his birth are equally uncertain, but he was probably born at Crowndale. near Tavistock, Devonshire, in 1539, and was named for his godfather. Francis Russell, afterwards second earl of Bedford. His father suffered persecution and was forced to fly from his home at Tavistock, and inhabit in the hull of a ship, where most of his younger sons were born; he had twelve in all. Francis was at an early age apprenticed to the master of a small coasting vessel, who dying without heirs, left the bark to him. He seems to have followed this petty trade for a short time, but in 1565 he was engaged in one or two voyages to Guinea, the Spanish Main, and South America. Influenced by the accounts he heard of the exploits of Hawkins, who was his kinsman, he commanded the Judith in the fleet fitted out by that great commander, which sailed from Plymouth, October 2, 1667, and which, with the exception of the Minion and the Judith conveying Hawkins and Drake, were destroyed in the harbor of San Juan d'Ulloa by a treacherous attack of the Spaniards. In 1570 he went on his own account to the West Indies and in 1571 went again, the chief fruit of which voyages was the intelligence he gained of men and places which were useful for his future movements. In 1572 he sailed with two small ships, having on board the parts of three "dainty pinnaces," and being reinforced on the way by another English ship arrived at the Isle of Pines in Cuba, where they captured two Spanish vessels. This adventure was followed by numberless others which involved the surrender of Nombre de Dios, the burning of Porto Bello. the sacking of Vera Cruz, the destruction of many Spanish ships, and the capture of a caravan of mules loaded with thirty tons of silver. On this voyage, in one of his journeys into the country of Panama. Drake, from a tree on the ridge, had a view of both oceans, and, transported at the sight, prayed fervently that he might live to sail the one he now first saw but had never visited. At length returning homeward, he arrived in Plymouth, Sunday, August 9, 1587. when, at the news, leaving the preacher in the midst of his sermon, everybody ran out of church to sec the famous seaman.

This was the most famous voyage ever made by an Englishman. but Drake contemplated greater things. After some service in Ireland. Drake got together a squadron of five vessels and sailed again to America. He determined to visit that great wide spreading sea of the west, which he had seen from the ridge of Panama. He left Falmouth, December 13.