Sir Francis Drake
Francis Drake was born in the small village of Tavistock in Devon, England. No birth records exist for Drake. It is believed he was born between 1540 and 1544, based on the dates of later events.[1] There are two portraits of Drake which exist that help identify the date of when his birth took place: one, painted in 1581 when Drake was said to be 42, meaning that his birth occurred in 1538 or 1539; the other painted in 1594, when he was said to be 53, placing his birth in 1540 or 1541. In 1586 a Spaniard wrote that Drake admitted he was 46, which suggests his birth took place in 1542.[2] Drake was the oldest of 12 siblings. Drake’s Father, Edmund, was a farmer on the estate of Lord Francis Russell, the second earl of Bedford. The Drakes had a good relationship with their landlords – so good that Drake was named after Lord Francis Russell. Russell was also made godfather of Drake.
The religious persecution during the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549 caused the Drake family to flee from Devon to Kent.[3] Edmund obtained a position to minister the men in the King’s Navy. In the 1550’s, Edmund apprenticed Drake to his neighbor, the master of a barque used to trade goods between England and France. [4] Drake proved himself to be a skillful crew member. Drake learned how to navigate using the stars, and box the compass.[5] He also learned how to handle the barque in all weather conditions and grew accustomed to life at sea. The ship master was so impressed with Drake’s skills that when he died, he left the ship to Drake.
Around 1580, Drake purchased Buckland Abbey, a large manor in Devon. He lived there for fifteen years until his final voyage. He had recently returned from his circumnavigation of the globe and was considered a national hero. He required a house that reflected his newly acquired status, and chose the property which had been recently converted by his cousin, Sir Richard Grenville.
Queen Elizabeth awarded Drake knighthood aboard his ship, The Golden Hind, on April 4th, 1581. Queen Elizabeth also awarded Drake his own coat of arms. The Coat of Arms depicted a ship sitting upon a globe, and a ribbon inscribed with “Sic Parvis Magna” beneath.[6]
Throughout Drake’s life, his faith was his most prominent characteristic; it was the motivating force of his sailing career. There would have been other motivational factors, such as his hatred for the Spaniards, personal profit and his patriotism, but none that compared to his overwhelming Protestantism. It was his confidence in his God, and his belief that God gave him protection, that gave Drake the courage to overcome massive obstacles and achieve greatness. His favorite oaths were ‘By God’s Faith!’ and ‘If God Wills’.[7]
[1] Although some historians claim he could have been born as early as 1535.
[2] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p.4
[3] In 1549 the Book of Common Prayer was introduced, the book presented the theology of the English Reformation. The change was extremely unpopular. Lord John Russell with an army were sent to suppress the revolts.
[4] A Barque is a sailing vessel with three or more masts.
[5] Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two clockwise points of the compass in order.
[6] ‘Sic Parvis’ Magna is Latin for ‘Greatness from small beginnings’ or ‘Great things have small beginnings’.
[7] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p.8
The religious persecution during the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549 caused the Drake family to flee from Devon to Kent.[3] Edmund obtained a position to minister the men in the King’s Navy. In the 1550’s, Edmund apprenticed Drake to his neighbor, the master of a barque used to trade goods between England and France. [4] Drake proved himself to be a skillful crew member. Drake learned how to navigate using the stars, and box the compass.[5] He also learned how to handle the barque in all weather conditions and grew accustomed to life at sea. The ship master was so impressed with Drake’s skills that when he died, he left the ship to Drake.
Around 1580, Drake purchased Buckland Abbey, a large manor in Devon. He lived there for fifteen years until his final voyage. He had recently returned from his circumnavigation of the globe and was considered a national hero. He required a house that reflected his newly acquired status, and chose the property which had been recently converted by his cousin, Sir Richard Grenville.
Queen Elizabeth awarded Drake knighthood aboard his ship, The Golden Hind, on April 4th, 1581. Queen Elizabeth also awarded Drake his own coat of arms. The Coat of Arms depicted a ship sitting upon a globe, and a ribbon inscribed with “Sic Parvis Magna” beneath.[6]
Throughout Drake’s life, his faith was his most prominent characteristic; it was the motivating force of his sailing career. There would have been other motivational factors, such as his hatred for the Spaniards, personal profit and his patriotism, but none that compared to his overwhelming Protestantism. It was his confidence in his God, and his belief that God gave him protection, that gave Drake the courage to overcome massive obstacles and achieve greatness. His favorite oaths were ‘By God’s Faith!’ and ‘If God Wills’.[7]
[1] Although some historians claim he could have been born as early as 1535.
[2] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p.4
[3] In 1549 the Book of Common Prayer was introduced, the book presented the theology of the English Reformation. The change was extremely unpopular. Lord John Russell with an army were sent to suppress the revolts.
[4] A Barque is a sailing vessel with three or more masts.
[5] Boxing the compass is the action of naming all thirty-two clockwise points of the compass in order.
[6] ‘Sic Parvis’ Magna is Latin for ‘Greatness from small beginnings’ or ‘Great things have small beginnings’.
[7] Sudgen, John. Sir Francis Drake. (Vintage Digital; New Ed edition, 2006) p.8