Sir Francis Drake
(1540-1596), Admiral and circumnavigatorSitter associated with 39 portraits
Born in Devon, Drake went to sea at a young age and earned his fame and fortune by skill and piracy against the Spanish. In 1557 he and his cousin John Hawkins sailed to Africa and became England’s earliest recorded slave traders. After leading two expeditions to the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth I granted him a privateer’s commission, effectively authorising him to plunder Spanish ports in the West Indies. In 1577 Elizabeth commissioned him to lead an expedition to South America through the Straights of Magellan. Drake’s ship, the Pelican (later renamed the Golden Hind) was the only ship to reach the Pacific. He arrived back in Plymouth in 1580, becoming the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. In 1585 he commanded a fleet of 25 ships and sailed to the West Indies, plundering Spanish ports and taking Santiago in the Cape Verde Islands, Cartagena in Colombia, St. Augustine in Florida and San Domingo in the Dominican Republic. In 1588, Drake served as second-in-command to Admiral Charles Howard in the English victory over the Spanish fleet, known as the Spanish Armada. In 1596 Elizabeth enlisted him for another voyage against Spain in the West Indies, but it failed. He died off the coast of Panama and was buried at sea.
by Nicholas Hilliard
watercolour on vellum, 1581
NPG 4851
attributed to Jodocus Hondius, completed by George Vertue
engraving, circa 1583
NPG 3905
after an engraving attributed to Jodocus Hondius
oil on panel, circa 1583
NPG 1627
possibly by Jodocus Hondius
line engraving, possibly late 16th to early 17th century
NPG D25402
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 16th-early 17th century
NPG D2283
by Johan Wierix, after Jean Rabel
line engraving, possibly early 17th century
NPG D25403
by Unknown artist
etching, early 17th century
NPG D25408
after Jean Rabel
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D7618
by Unknown artist
etching, early 17th century
NPG D21178
by Unknown engraver
etching, 17th century?
NPG D21177
possibly by Magdalena de Passe, possibly by Willem de Passe
line engraving, 1620
NPG D25411
by Robert Vaughan
line engraving, probably mid 17th century
NPG D25414
by William Marshall
line engraving, 1648
NPG D25413
after Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1684
NPG D23930
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 18th century
NPG D25407
Unknown man engraved as Sir Francis Drake
by Robert White
line engraving, 1705
NPG D25404
Unknown man engraved as Sir Francis Drake
by Robert White
line engraving, published 1705
NPG D13560
by Michael Vandergucht
line engraving, 1713
NPG D28993
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably mid 18th century
NPG D25405
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