Sir Francis Drake and the Second Circumnavigation of the Globe: England's Greatest Maritime Adventure

Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the globe stands among the greatest maritime achievements of the Age of Exploration. Between 1577 and 1580, the English navigator led an extraordinary expedition across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, becoming the first Englishman to sail around the world and the commander of the second successful circumnavigation of the globe.

Following the historic Magellan-Elcano expedition of 1519–1522, Drake's voyage demonstrated that England could challenge the maritime supremacy of Spain and Portugal. His expedition aboard the Golden Hind combined exploration, naval warfare, privateering, and commercial ambition, ultimately transforming England's position in the emerging global maritime world.

Although Drake returned to England with enormous quantities of captured Spanish treasure, his greatest achievement was proving that English ships could navigate the world's oceans and compete with the established European maritime powers.

His journey also contributed to geographical knowledge, opened possibilities for English overseas expansion, and helped establish the foundations of England's future naval influence.

Why Sir Francis Drake Sailed Around the World

By the late sixteenth century, Spain and Portugal dominated European overseas exploration and international trade.

Spanish conquistadors had conquered vast territories in the Americas, while Spanish treasure fleets transported gold, silver, and other valuable commodities across the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth I of England sought opportunities to challenge Spanish influence and expand English commercial interests.

Religious tensions intensified the rivalry between Protestant England and Catholic Spain, particularly under King Philip II.

Drake had already gained considerable experience attacking Spanish shipping and settlements in the Caribbean during the early 1570s.

His successful expedition to the Isthmus of Panama in 1572–1573 demonstrated his ability to conduct daring operations against Spanish colonial possessions.

In 1577, Drake received support from influential English investors and apparently from Queen Elizabeth herself for an expedition into the Pacific.

The precise original objectives remain uncertain, but they included attacking Spanish interests, obtaining valuable cargoes, and exploring opportunities for English trade.

Primary source: Richard Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations, Voiages and Discoveries of the English Nation (1589), "The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake."

The Departure from Plymouth in 1577

On 13 December 1577, Francis Drake departed Plymouth, England, commanding a fleet of five vessels and approximately 160 men.

His flagship was originally named the Pelican, but it was later renamed the Golden Hind in honor of his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton.

The expedition's vessels included:

• Pelican (Golden Hind) – Drake's flagship.

• Elizabeth – Commanded by John Winter.

• Marigold – A smaller accompanying vessel.

• Swan – A supply and support vessel.

• Benedict – A small vessel used during the Atlantic passage.

The ships carried provisions, weapons, navigational instruments, and supplies necessary for an extended ocean voyage.

Unlike modern navigators, Drake relied upon compasses, celestial navigation, dead reckoning, and maritime charts.

His expedition faced enormous dangers, including storms, disease, hostile encounters, and the constant possibility of becoming lost at sea.

Primary source: The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1628), account of the expedition's departure.

Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

Drake initially sailed southward along the western coast of Africa before crossing the Atlantic Ocean toward South America.

The expedition encountered difficult weather and logistical problems that forced Drake to reorganize his fleet.

Some vessels were abandoned, while their supplies were transferred to the remaining ships.

By June 1578, the expedition reached Port St. Julian, on the coast of modern Argentina.

This location held historical significance because Ferdinand Magellan had visited the same harbor during his earlier circumnavigation.

However, Drake's stay became controversial following accusations against Thomas Doughty, a prominent member of the expedition.

Doughty was accused of conspiring against Drake and challenging his authority.

After a trial conducted within the expedition, Doughty was executed in July 1578.

Ancient and modern interpretations of this incident differ, with historians questioning whether Doughty genuinely threatened the expedition or became the victim of a struggle for command.

The execution demonstrated Drake's determination to maintain strict discipline during his dangerous voyage.

Primary source: The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1628), narrative of the events at Port St. Julian.

Navigating the Strait of Magellan

In August 1578, Drake entered the Strait of Magellan, the dangerous waterway separating mainland South America from Tierra del Fuego.

The passage had first been navigated by Europeans during Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1520.

Its narrow channels, powerful currents, violent winds, and unpredictable weather presented formidable obstacles.

Drake successfully navigated the strait in approximately sixteen days, entering the Pacific Ocean in September 1578.

However, violent storms soon scattered his fleet.

The Marigold disappeared during the storms, apparently sinking with all aboard.

The Elizabeth, commanded by John Winter, eventually returned to England.

Drake's flagship, the Golden Hind, continued alone.

The storms also carried Drake southward, helping demonstrate that Tierra del Fuego did not extend indefinitely toward a great southern continent.

These observations contributed to European geographical understanding of the waters south of South America, later associated with the Drake Passage.

Primary source: The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1628), account of the Strait of Magellan and Pacific storms.

Drake's Raids on Spanish America

After entering the Pacific, Drake sailed northward along the western coast of South America, attacking Spanish shipping and settlements.

The Pacific had long been dominated by Spanish maritime activity, and many Spanish vessels operated with relatively limited protection.

Drake exploited this vulnerability.

His targets included Spanish ships and coastal settlements near:

• Chile

• Peru

• Ecuador

• The Pacific coast of New Spain

Drake captured valuable cargoes, including silver, gold, precious stones, and commercial goods.

His success depended upon speed, surprise, and the fact that Spanish authorities had not anticipated an English warship entering the Pacific.

To English supporters, Drake was a daring privateer challenging Spain's maritime monopoly.

To Spanish officials, he was a dangerous pirate who attacked merchant vessels and seized property.

This distinction reflected the political and legal disputes surrounding European overseas expansion.

Primary source: Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations (1589), "The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake."

The Capture of the Spanish Treasure Ship Cacafuego

One of the most famous episodes of Drake's circumnavigation occurred on 1 March 1579.

Near the coast of South America, Drake captured the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, commonly nicknamed the Cacafuego.

The vessel carried an extraordinary cargo of precious metals and valuables.

Contemporary accounts describe its treasure as including:

• Approximately 26 tons of silver.

• Significant quantities of gold.

• Precious stones and jewelry.

• Valuable commercial goods.

Drake's crew spent several days transferring the treasure aboard the Golden Hind.

The capture became one of the most profitable acts of Elizabethan privateering.

It also demonstrated that Spanish treasure ships were vulnerable even within the Pacific, where Spain had previously enjoyed overwhelming maritime superiority.

The enormous wealth acquired during the expedition would later reward Drake, his investors, and the English crown.

Primary source: Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations (1589), "The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake."

Exploring California and New Albion

After raiding Spanish shipping, Drake continued northward along the Pacific coast of North America.

He may have been searching for the legendary Northwest Passage, a proposed maritime route connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

In June 1579, Drake reached the coast of present-day California.

The precise location of his landing remains debated, although Drakes Bay, north of modern San Francisco, is widely associated with the expedition.

Drake remained in the region for several weeks, repairing the Golden Hind and preparing for the Pacific crossing.

He named the territory Nova Albion, or New Albion, invoking an ancient name for Britain.

According to English accounts, Drake claimed the region for Queen Elizabeth I.

His crew also encountered Indigenous inhabitants, generally identified by historians with the Coast Miwok.

English narratives describe exchanges of gifts and ceremonies, although their interpretation of Indigenous behavior reflected European assumptions.

Drake's claim represented an English imperial ambition rather than evidence that Indigenous communities surrendered their territory.

Primary source: The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1628), account of Nova Albion.

Crossing the Pacific Ocean

On 23 July 1579, Drake departed the North American coast and sailed westward across the vast Pacific Ocean.

The crossing represented one of the most dangerous stages of the expedition.

The Golden Hind faced:

• Limited supplies of fresh water.

• Shortages of fresh food.

• Unpredictable weather.

• Navigational uncertainty.

• The threat of disease and exhaustion.

After nearly three months at sea, Drake reached islands in the western Pacific in October 1579.

He then navigated through the island regions of Southeast Asia.

The successful crossing demonstrated the remarkable endurance of the expedition and the navigational abilities of its crew.

It also provided England with valuable practical experience of long-distance Pacific navigation.

Primary source: Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations (1589), "The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake."

The Spice Islands and the Sultan of Ternate

In November 1579, Drake reached Ternate, one of the important islands of the Moluccas, commonly known as the Spice Islands.

These islands occupied a central position in the lucrative Asian spice trade.

European merchants particularly valued:

• Cloves

• Nutmeg

• Mace

• Other rare spices

At Ternate, Drake established friendly relations with Sultan Babullah, a powerful local ruler who had previously resisted Portuguese influence.

The English expedition received a favorable welcome and obtained a cargo of cloves.

This encounter demonstrated that England could establish commercial and diplomatic contacts with Asian rulers independently of Spanish and Portuguese networks.

It also revealed the sophistication of existing Asian trading systems, which had operated for centuries before European expansion.

Primary source: The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1628), account of Ternate and the Moluccas.

The Golden Hind Nearly Sinks

In January 1580, the expedition nearly ended in disaster.

While navigating the dangerous waters of the Indonesian archipelago, the Golden Hind struck a reef.

The ship became trapped, threatening the lives of everyone aboard.

The crew attempted to free the vessel by reducing its weight and taking advantage of favorable conditions.

After a tense struggle, the ship finally floated free.

The incident demonstrated the dangers of sixteenth-century navigation.

Even the most experienced sailors could lose their ships to unfamiliar reefs, unpredictable currents, or inaccurate charts.

Drake subsequently visited Java, where he encountered established Asian trading communities.

The expedition then prepared for its final great ocean crossing.

Primary source: The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1628), account of the ship's grounding near the East Indies.

Crossing the Indian Ocean

After leaving Southeast Asia, Drake sailed westward across the Indian Ocean.

His objective was to reach the southern coast of Africa and return to England through the Atlantic.

This route had previously been established by Portuguese navigators, beginning with Vasco da Gama's voyage to India in 1497–1499.

Drake successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1580.

The expedition then continued northward through the Atlantic Ocean.

By this stage, the Golden Hind had survived nearly three years of continuous voyaging.

Its crew had endured storms, dangerous reefs, hostile encounters, shortages of provisions, and thousands of miles of open ocean.

The achievement demonstrated the extraordinary seamanship required for early modern circumnavigation.

Primary source: Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations (1589), "The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake."

Sir Francis Drake Returns to England

On 26 September 1580, the Golden Hind returned to Plymouth, completing the second successful circumnavigation of the globe.

Nearly three years had passed since Drake's departure.

Of the five ships that originally sailed from England, only the Golden Hind completed the voyage around the world.

The expedition had:

• Crossed the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

• Navigated the Strait of Magellan.

• Attacked Spanish shipping in the Pacific.

• Explored the western coast of North America.

• Visited the Spice Islands.

• Rounded the Cape of Good Hope.

The ship returned with enormous quantities of captured treasure.

Although the precise financial returns remain uncertain, the expedition generated substantial profits for its investors and the English crown.

Drake's return represented a major triumph for Elizabethan England.

Primary source: John Stow, Annales, or a General Chronicle of England (1605), account of Drake's return in 1580.

Queen Elizabeth I Knights Francis Drake

Drake's return created a diplomatic crisis.

Spain demanded that England punish Drake and return the captured treasure.

However, Queen Elizabeth I chose to honor his achievements.

On 4 April 1581, Drake was knighted aboard the Golden Hind at Deptford.

The ceremony was performed by the French ambassador on the queen's behalf.

Drake consequently became Sir Francis Drake, one of the most celebrated naval figures of the Elizabethan era.

His success strengthened his political influence and established his reputation as a leading English maritime commander.

The Golden Hind became a national symbol of English exploration and naval ambition.

Primary source: John Stow, Annales (1605), events of 1581.

The Historical Significance of Drake's Circumnavigation

The second circumnavigation of the globe had lasting consequences for England and European maritime history.

First, Drake demonstrated that English ships could undertake extended expeditions across the world's oceans.

Second, his attacks challenged Spanish assumptions of maritime security in the Pacific.

Third, the expedition expanded English geographical knowledge of the Americas, Pacific Ocean, and Southeast Asia.

Fourth, it encouraged English merchants and political leaders to pursue overseas commercial opportunities.

Finally, the voyage contributed to the development of England's identity as a growing maritime power.

However, Drake's expedition did not immediately establish an English global empire.

Spain and Portugal remained powerful maritime states, and England's overseas expansion developed gradually over the following centuries.

Nevertheless, the voyage represented an important milestone in the history of English exploration and imperial expansion.

Was Sir Francis Drake a Pirate or an Explorer?

The reputation of Sir Francis Drake remains controversial.

To many English contemporaries, he was a courageous explorer and naval hero who challenged Spanish power.

To Spanish officials, he was a pirate responsible for attacking merchant vessels and stealing valuable cargoes.

Drake's activities also formed part of the wider history of European colonial expansion.

His earlier career included participation in voyages associated with John Hawkins and the Atlantic slave trade.

His expedition's encounters with Indigenous peoples also reflected emerging English colonial ambitions.

Consequently, Drake should be understood as both an exceptionally skilled navigator and a participant in the violent commercial and imperial rivalries of the sixteenth century.

His accomplishments were extraordinary, but they existed alongside piracy, exploitation, and colonial competition.

Legacy of Sir Francis Drake and the Golden Hind

Today, Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation remains one of the defining achievements of the Age of Exploration.

His voyage demonstrated:

• The growing power of Elizabethan England.

• The importance of long-distance maritime navigation.

• The vulnerability of Spanish overseas commerce.

• The commercial possibilities of global trade.

• The extraordinary endurance of sixteenth-century sailors.

Drake later played an important role in England's naval campaigns against Spain, including the confrontation with the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Although he died in 1596, his reputation as a navigator and naval commander continued to influence English maritime traditions.

The Golden Hind remains an enduring symbol of exploration, adventure, and the emergence of England as an international naval power.

Conclusion

Sir Francis Drake's second circumnavigation of the globe remains one of the most remarkable maritime expeditions in world history. Between 1577 and 1580, Drake navigated the Atlantic Ocean, passed through the Strait of Magellan, explored the Pacific coast of the Americas, crossed the vast Pacific Ocean, visited the Spice Islands, and returned to England by rounding the Cape of Good Hope.

His voyage aboard the Golden Hind became the first successful circumnavigation commanded by an Englishman and demonstrated that England could challenge the maritime dominance of Spain and Portugal.

Beyond its navigational achievements, the expedition expanded geographical knowledge, encouraged overseas commerce, and contributed to England's emergence as a major maritime power.

Although Drake's career remains controversial because of privateering, colonial ambition, and his involvement in the violent Atlantic world, the historical significance of his voyage is undeniable.

The second circumnavigation of the globe helped transform England's maritime ambitions and established Sir Francis Drake as one of the most influential navigators of the Age of Exploration.

References

Primary Sources

• Hakluyt, Richard. The Principall Navigations, Voiages and Discoveries of the English Nation (1589), "The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake."

• The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake (1628), compiled from expedition accounts, particularly those associated with Francis Fletcher.

• Stow, John. Annales, or a General Chronicle of England (1605).

• Cooke, John. Narrative of Sir Francis Drake's Voyage (surviving manuscript account).

• Da Silva, Nuno. Accounts and testimony concerning Drake's voyage (1578–1579).

Secondary Sources

• Kelsey, Harry. Sir Francis Drake: The Queen's Pirate.

• Sugden, John. Sir Francis Drake.

• Andrews, Kenneth R. Drake's Voyages: A Re-assessment of Their Place in Elizabethan Maritime Expansion.

• Bawlf, Samuel. The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake, 1577–1580.

• Quinn, David B. The Roanoke Voyages, 1584–1590.

Essential Reading

This content may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase or sign up for a service, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.