![]() Drake was initiated into this unsavory but generally accepted business while still in his teens. The Hawkins were successful merchants, but, as was common practice during this era, they were also privateers or pirates, plundering French, Spanish, or Portuguese vessels on the side for extra lucre. But by the time his father was on the lam, Francis was already living with the Hawkins family, prosperous relatives who trained the young man in the art of seafaring. Although several accounts state that Edmund was forced to decamp due to anti-Protestant religious persecution, the truth was that he was a fugitive from the law after a couple of violent robberies. The sea was in his blood: his father Edmund had been a sailor before becoming a tenant farmer, shearman, and preacher. Francis Drake was born on the Crowndale farm near Tavistock, West Devon, most likely in February or March 1540, although some estimates date his birth as late as 1544. ![]() ![]() The great English circumnavigator’s origin story varies depending on the account, but here is the most plausible telling we could assemble. This month we will continue that series by looking at Sir Francis Drake’s trip around the world from December 1577 to September 1580 and how his journey was reflected on a variety of maps. ![]() ![]() In our January newsletter, we retraced the route of Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe (1519-22), identifying maps that showcase the places discovered along the way. The great explorers used existing maps to plan and navigate their voyages, and their discoveries eventually wound up appearing on new maps that then influenced future expeditions. The history of cartography and the history of exploration are inextricably linked. ![]()
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