Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596), 16th century (engraving)

Creator: Freeman after an original painting by J. Houbraken Drake, English privateer, trader, navigator and politician, was the second man to circumnavigate the world, 1577-1580, the first Englishman to do so and, given that Magellan was killed before his voyage was completed, the first commander of an expedition to return with full success. From relatively humble beginnings and early experience at sea with John Lovell and his own cousin John Hawkins, Drake pursued an outstandingly successful career as a privateer. His voyage round the world was underwritten by Elizabeth I and involved a series of highly profitable raids on Spanish ships and ports.