Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Sir Francis Drake | Timeline

Sir Francis Drakevice admiral (c. 1540 – 27 January 1596) was an English sea captainprivateernavigatorslaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Drake carried out the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580, and was the first to complete the voyage as captain while leading the expedition throughout the entire circumnavigation. With his incursion into the Pacific he inaugurated an era of privateering and piracy in the western coast of the Americas—an area that had previously been free of piracy. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 1540 - Tavistock, Devon - Francis Drake is born
November 9, 1566 - Plymouth - Four of John Hawkins's ships - The "Paul", the "Solomon", the "Pascoe" and the "Swallow", sail under the command of Captain John Lovell. One of the sailors aboard the "Swallow" is Hawkins's second cousin Francis Drake =(START)
October 2, 1567 - Plymouth - John Hawkins sails to the Antilles with 6 ships: 700-ton "Jesus of Lubeck", 300-ton "Minion", 150-ton "William and John", 50-ton bark "Judith", 32-ton "Angel" and the 30-ton pinnace "Swallow". Francis Drake sails with the expedition
October 6, 1567 - 40 miles from Cape Finisterre, NW Spain - Hawkins and Drake face a huge storm. The fleet is scattered
October 10, 1567 - Coast of Portugal - Sailing alone to the Canary Islands
October 23, 1567 - Tenerife, Canary Islands - Hawkins arrives at Tenerife and finds the "Judith" at anchor
October 30, 1567 - Southern side of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Island - After repairing the "Jesus of Lubeck", Hawkins sails to the friendlier southern side of the island, where he had contacts. There he learns that his missing ships were all safe on the Island of La Gomera, west of Tenerife
November 2, 1567 - La Gomera Island - All the ships are reunited. Their combined companies hold a great celebration and receive gifts from the Spanish Governor and the people of the town of San Sebastian
November 15(?), 1567 - Cape Verde Islands - Hawkins plunders some portuguese ships for african slaves
November 25(?), 1567 - Cape Roxo (Senegal-Guinea-Bissau border) - Hawkins captures the slaves aboard six other portuguese ships
November 30(?), 1567 - Coast of Guinea - Hawkins crosses path with french pirates who had taken a portuguese ship. He seizes the ship and gives it to Francis Drake, his first command
December 5(?), 1567 - Cacheu River (Guinea-Bissau) - Drake leads an expedition up the Cacheu River. He attacks some portuguese ships, loosing four men, but captures no slaves
January 1(?), 1568 - "Island of Conga", Sierra Leone - Hawkins attacks a fortified town on the island of Conga, off the coast of Sierra Leone. With the help of the indigenous Sapi people, he captures another 250 slaves and hands over the town to the Sapi
February(?) 1(?), 1568 - Elmina, Ghana - Hawkins and Drake reach Elmina (portuguese: São Jorge da Mina = St.George of the Mine)
February 3, 1568 - Elmina, Ghana - Hawkins and Drake sail for the Antilles with 500 slaves aboard
March 27, 1568 - Dominica - Hawkins and Drake reach Dominica and replenish their ships with fresh water
April 2, 1568 - Isla Margarita, Venezuela - Hawkins and Drake trade peacefully during eight days
April 14, 1568 - Borburata (E Puerto Cabello, Venezuela) - After trading at Burburata, the english careen their ships. Drake receives the command of the "Judith"
June 1, 1568 -  Borburata (E Puerto Cabello, Venezuela) - Drake sails to Riohacha
June 4, 1568 - Ríohacha, Colombia - Drake asks to load his ship with fresh water and is refused. He blockades the town
June 9, 1568 - Ríohacha, Colombia - Hawkins joins Drake at Ríohacha
June 15, 1568 - Inland Ríohacha - Inland expedition, where treasures are captured
July 10, 1568 - Santa Marta - Hawkins and Drake reach Santa Marta and disguised trade is done
July 16, 1568 - Cartagena, Colombia - Hawkins and Drake arrive in Cartagena
July 24, 1568 - Cartagena, Colombia - Hawkins and Drake depart from Cartagena. Stormy Sea
September 11, 1568 - Alacranes Reef, N of Mérida-Yucatán - A violent storm west of Cuba / Island of Pinos takes the english to the Gulf of Mexico
September 15, 1568 - San Juan de Ulúa, Vera Cruz - Hawkins and Drake arrive off San Juan de Ulúa. They occupy the island on the next day
September 23, 1568 - San Juan de Ulúa, Vera Cruz - Spanish surprise attack. Hawkins and Drake escape with many casualties
January 20, 1569 - Plymouth - Drake returns to Plymouth
July 4, 1569 - Plymouth - Francis Drake marries Mary Newman at St.Budeaux's Church, Plymouth
January(?) 1(?), 1570 - Plymouth(?) - Very secretive survey voyage to the Antilles
February(?) 1(?), 1571 - North Coast of Panama Isthmus - Second survey voyage
May(?) 1(?), 1571 - North Coast of Panama Isthmus - Drake sails back to England
October(?) 10(?), 1571 - Plymouth - Drake returns to Plymouth
May 24, 1572 - Plymouth - Drake departs for his third voyage in command with the 70-ton "Pasco" and the 40-ton "Swan", carrying 3 pinnaces stored in precut sections for river incursions
June 1(?), 1572 - Off Porto Santo Island, Madeira - Passage by Porto Santo on the way to the Antilles
June 3(?), 1572 - Off Canary Islands - Passage by the Canary Islands on the way to the Antilles
June 28, 1572 - Guadalupe - Drake arrives at the Antilles - only 25 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean
June 29, 1572 - South of Dominica - Drake anchors south of Dominica
July 10, 1572 - Off Santa Marta - Drake passes off Santa Marta
July 12, 1572 - Zapzurro (Panama-Colombia) - Drake reaches Zapzurro, via Santa Marta
July 22, 1572 - East Coast of Panama - Drake captures two spanish ships
July 28, 1572 - Off Nombre de Dios - Arrival off Nombre de Dios. Drake has the three pinnaces ready to sail, now baptized as "Lion", "Bear" and "Minion"
July 29, 1572 - Nombre de Dios - Drake attacks Nombre de Dios
August 13, 1572 - Off Cartagena - Drake cuts off the moorings of a Spanish ship and captures 2 others that carried news of the attack
August 15, 1572 - Off Cartagena - Drake decides to change course to Darién, Panama
September 24, 1572 - Gulf of San Blas, Panama - Drake moves his flotilla to the Gulf of San Blas, where he builds a fort
October 7, 1572 - Gulf of San Blas, Panama - Drake sets sail to Cartagena
October 20, 1572 - Off Cartagena - Drake captures two ships on his way to Santo Domingo
November 3, 1572 - Mouth of River Magdalena, Barranquilla - Drake is driven off and replenishes his ships at River Magdalena
November 5, 1572 - Off Santa Marta - Disappointed by the lack of targets, Drake decides to sail towards Curaçao
November 27, 1572 - Gulf of San Blas, Panama - Drake returns to his base
December 3, 1572 - Gulf of San Blas, Panama - Drake departs in a land expedition to Nombre de Dios
Drake sees the Pacific Ocean
December 11, 1572 - Panama - Drake climbs on a hill with a tree and is moved to tears to see the two Great Oceans
December 14, 1572 - Near the City of Panama
February 22, 1573 - Gulf of San Blas, Panama - The expedition is unsucessful and Drake returns to his base
March 23, 1573 - Gulf of San Blas, Panama - Drake goes to Sea in a new ship
March 25, 1573 - Off Gulf of San Blas - Drake finds Guillaume Le Testu. They exchange gifs and news of the Saint Bartholomew Massacre in France
March 31, 1573 - Mouth of River Cuango, E of Nombre de Dios - Drake and Le Testu meet at the mouth of River Cuango
April 1, 1573 - Nombre de Dios - Drake and Le Testu ambush the Spanish treasure convoy of mules. Le Testu is wounded
April 3, 1573 - Mouth of River Cuango, E of Nombre de Dios - Drake returns to the meeting point. On the next day, the spoils are divided with the french
April 29, 1573 - Mouth of River Magdalena, Barranquilla - Drake loads his ships in preparation for the voyage back to England
July 17, 1573 - Cape San Antonio, western tip of Cuba - Drake sets sail to England
August 9, 1573 - Plymouth - Drake reaches England in just 23 days!!!
July 20, 1575 - Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland - John Norris and Drake set sail from Carrickfergus
July 22, 1575 - Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland - Norris and Drake land at Rathlin Island
July 25, 1575 - Rathlin Island - After landing artillery, Norris makes two attempts to storm the castle
July 26, 1575 - Rathlin Island - After surrendering, the english promptly massacre the entire garrison of 200 men. After searching the rest of the island, Norris's men further massacre another 400 people, mostly women and children. Francis Drake is also charged with the task of preventing any Scottish reinforcement vessels reaching the Island
The Golden Hind | Photo Credits: Joel Rogers

November 15, 1577 - Plymouth - Drake departs to his Circumnavegation, aboard the Golden Hind - First attempt
November 16, 1577 - Falmouth - Right off Falmouth, they are hit by a violent storm and are forced to return for repairs
December 13, 1577 - Plymouth - Drake departs to his Circumnavegation, aboard the Golden Hind - second attempt
January 3(?), 1578 - Coast of Morocco - Passage by the Coast of Morocco on the way to Brazil
January 12(?), 1578 - Cape Verde Islands - Passage by Cape Verde on the way to Brazil
April 5, 1578 - Off Porto Alegre, South Brazil - Drake appears off Porto Alegre, coming from Western Africa
July 2, 1578 - San Julian, Argentina - Thomas Doughty, a subordinate of Drake, is executed for mutiny
August 17, 1578 - San Julian, Argentina - Drake sets sail to the Strait of Magellan
August 20, 1578 - Mouth of the Strait of Magellan - Drake enters in the Strait of Magellan
September 6, 1578 - Pacific Ocean - Taking advantage of good winds, Drake crosses the Strait of Magellan in just 14 days
October 20, 1578 - 57º South, SW of Cape Horn - Drake is pushed to the south by storms
November 25, 1578 - Mocha Island, Chile - Drake reaches Mocha Island. Crewmen are attacked by indians and Drake himself is wounded
December 5, 1578 - Valparaíso, Chile - Drake plunders the city and captures a ship with riches and maps of the Pacific
February 5, 1579 - Arica, Chile - Drake enters in the harbour and takes 3 barques
February 13, 1579 - Callao, Peru - Drake enters in the harbour and plunders 12 ships, cutting the moorings. There he gets news of the Cacafuego ship
March 1, 1579 - Cape San Francisco, Equador (near Venezuela) - Drake catches the Cacafuego and loads the Golden Hind with its riches
April 4, 1579 - Off Nicaragua - Drake captures a barque with two pilots experienced in the crossing of the Pacific Ocean
April 13, 1579 - Huatulco, SE of Acapulco, Mexico - Drake sneaks into the city, plunders and demands ransom for the city's judge
June 3, 1579 - Oregon Dunes(?) Vancouver(?) - The crew begins suffering the effects of the cold weather, until a point when it becomes extreme. With the unlikelihood of a northwestern passage to the Atlantic to be found that way, Drake decides to turn course to the south 
Drake in California (1590 engraving)
June 17, 1579 - Drake's Bay, NW of San Francisco - Drake careens his ships in this area before crossing the Pacific. A leak in the "Golden Hind" is also fixed
July 23, 1579 - Drake's Bay, NW of San Francisco - Drake leaves the Americas setting sail to Mindanao
September(?) 3(?), 1579 - NW of Hawaii - Drake sails a few days distance from Hawaii (45 to 50% of the voyage)
November 4, 1579 - In view of Mindanao, Philippines - Drake catches sight of the Philippines
December(?) 4(?), 1579 - Ternate - Drake arrives to Ternate and is welcomed by the Sultan
December 10, 1579 - Celebes Islands - Drake reaches the Celebes Islands. The Golden Hind runs aground and he is forced to stop for repairs
March 11, 1580 - Java - Drake reaches Java
March 26, 1580 - W of Java - Drake cancels plans to go to Malacca and decides to sail to England
June 15, 1580 - Cape of Good Hope - The Golden Hind crosses the Cape of Good Hope
July 12, 1580 - Line of the Equator - The Golden Hind crosses the Line of the Equator
July 16, 1580 - Coast of Guinea - Drake reaches the Coast of Guinea and replenishes his ship with fresh water
September 11, 1580 - Terceira Island, Azores - Drake reaches Terceira Island
September 26, 1580 - Plymouth - Francis Drake arrives in England after the Circumnavigation
Francis Drake is knighed by Queen Elizabeth
on the deck of the Golden Hind
April 4, 1581 - Deptford - Francis Drake is knighted by Queen Elizabeth, aboard the Golden Hind May(?) 1(?), 1581 - Plymouth - Drake becomes Mayor of Plymouth. He begins a major infrastructure project to bring a fresh water supply to the town
September 14, 1585 - Plymouth - Drake sets sail for the Antilles with a strong armada of 21 ships and 1,800 soldiers under command of Christopher Carleill. One of his captains is Martin Frobisher, in command of the "Primrose".
Richard Hawkins, son of Sir John Hawkins, also goes on the expedition
September 27, 1585 - Bayona, Vigo Bay - Drake sends people ashore to plunder and take hostages, which Carleill had already done
October 11, 1585 - Bayona, Vigo Bay - After taking on fresh water, Drake sets sail again
November 3, 1585 - La Palma, Canary Islands - An attempt to land is thwarted
November 18, 1585 - Santiago, Cape Verde - 1,000 men land, and while they await for ransom, the ships are loaded with provisions. Nobody appears
November 29, 1585 - Santiago, Cape Verde - Drake weighs anchor and begins the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean
December 16, 1585 - Dominica - Arrival to Dominica, passage by Guadalupe
December 25, 1585 - St.Kitts Island - The english spend Christmas at St. Christopher
December 31, 1585 - In sight of Santo Domingo - The english armada creates panic when it is seen from Santo Domingo
January 1, 1586 - Santo Domingo - The city is taken. During the night, 1,000 men land at the mouth of River Haina
January 31, 1586 - Santo Domingo - Drake departs with a ransom of 25,000 ducats and all riches of Santo Domingo
February 9, 1586 - Cartagena, Colombia - Drake enters in the port of Cartagena
March 10, 1586 - Cartagena, Colombia - The spanish hand over a ransom of 107,000 ducats. Maybe even more 200,000 from individuals
April 14, 1586 - Cartagena, Colombia - With too many sick men aboard, Drake decides to return to England
April 27, 1586 - Between Havana and Cape San Antonio - Drake careens his ships and abandons plans to assault Havana, which was well defended
May 13, 1586 - Between Havana and Cape San Antonio - Drake departs with a portuguese pilot to the East coast of Florida
May 28, 1586 - St.Augustine, Florida - Drake lands and destroys the spanish settlement. The spanish run away with their families
June 9, 1586 - Roanoke Island, North Carolina - Drake reaches the Virginia Colony, in the Island of Roanoke
June 18, 1586 - Roanoke Island, North Carolina - Drake sets sail to England taking colonists with him
July 28, 1586 - Portsmouth - Drake returns to England
March 16, 1587 - London - Queen Elizabeth grants Drake with 4 ships and 2 pinnaces. Signs contract with merchants
April 2, 1587 - Plymouth - Drake writes to Walsingham describing him the preparations for the next expedition against Spain: a preemptive strike against the port of Cadiz, where the spanish invasion armada was being assembled
April 12, 1587 - Plymouth - Drake sets sail for Cadiz with 27 ships. His flagship is the "Revenge"
April 15, 1587 - In sight of Cape Finisterre, NW Spain - Cape Finisterre is sighted
April 27, 1587 - Cape St.Vincent, Portugal - After a storm, Drake's ships gather again and double Cape St.Vincent
April 29, 1587 - Off Cadiz - Drake appears before Cadiz. 37 spanish ships are destroyed at anchor
May 2, 1587 - Cadiz - Drake departs Cadiz to patrol between Lisbon and Cape St. Vincent, during a month
May 14, 1587 - Lagos, Portugal - 1,000 english land and assault the fortress of Sagres and Cape St. Vincent
May 17, 1587 - Off Cape St Vincent, Portugal - Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham: "There hath happened between the Spaniards, Portingals, and ourselves divers combats, in the which it hath pleased God that we have taken forts, ships, barks, carvels, and divers other vessels more than a hundred, most laden, some with oars for galleys, planks and timber for ships and pinnaces, hoops and pipe-staves for cask, with many other provisions for this great army ... The Portingals I have always commanded to be used well, and set them ashore without the wanting of any of their apparel, and have made them to know that it was unto me a great grief that I was driven to hurt of theirs to the value of one real or plate, but that I found them employed for the Spaniards’ services, which we hold to be our mortal enemies, and gave some Portingals some money in their purses and put them aland in divers places, upon which usage, if we stay here any time, the Spaniards which are here in Portugal, if they come under our hands, will become all Portingals and play as Peter did – forswear their master rather than to be sold as slaves. I assure your honour this hath bred a great fear in the Spaniard"
May 24(?), 1587 - Cascais, Portugal - Drake proposes an exchange of prisoners to Álvaro de Bazán
June 1, 1587 - Off Alentejo Coast, SW Portugal - Drake sets sail to the Azores
June 8, 1587 - 20 leagues from São Miguel (St.Michael) Island, Azores - Drake captures the carrack "São Filipe", full of riches
July 6, 1587 - Plymouth - Drake's expedition ends with the return to Plymouth
February 21, 1588 - Plymouth - Preparations for the defence of England start in Plymouth
April 13, 1588 - Plymouth - Letter to Queen Elizabeth: "The advantage of time and place, in all martial actions is half the victory"
July 21, 1588 - Eddystone Rocks, off Plymouth - Aboard the Revenge, Drake, in command of a squadron, engages the spanish in battle
July 23, 1588 - Off Portland (Weymouth) - Another battle between the english and the spanish
July 29, 1588 - Off Gravelines, France - Battle of Gravelines
March 1, 1589 - Plymouth - Drake (Admiral) and Norreys (General of the Infantry) are ready to sail
April 10, 1589 - Plymouth - The fleet of Drake and Norreys set sail from England
April 13, 1589 - In sight of Cape Ortegal, NE Corunna - The english fleet reaches Galicia
April 14, 1589 - Corunna - The english fleet arrives to Corunna. The spanish fire their guns at the entrance of the Bay
April 15, 1589 - Stª.Maria de Oza Beach, Corunna - 8,000 english soldiers land
April 28, 1589 - Corunna - The english are unable to conquer the city and re-embark, leaving 1,300 dead behind, 3 sunken ships and 4 landing barges. After putting to sea, ten other small vessels with 1,000 men on board decided to desert and took to England. The rest of the fleet, despite failing to obtain supplies in Corunna, continued with the plan established and headed to Lisbon
May 3, 1589 - Off Northern Portugal / Galicia - As the fleet is hit by a storm, they are joined by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, who brings supplies from Plymouth
May 26, 1589 - Consolação Beach, Peniche - Landing of 6,500 english soldiers, commanded by Essex. The exiled Prior of Crato, believed that his presence would provoke a general rising against Philip II
May 30, 1589 - Cascais - Drake arrives at Cascais and lands 1,800 soldiers. The fortress of Cascais is taken and the english Admiral captures a fleet of 60 ships from the Hanseatic League and another 20 from France
June 18, 1589 - Cascais - The castle is burned. Drake departs for Cape St.Vincent with Norreys and Essex
June 20, 1589 - Off Cape Espichel - Due to lack of wind, the English are reached by galleys that cause heavy casualties
June 27, 1589 - Vigo - Drake sneaks into the Rias Baixas (Lower Rias) - a series of four estuarine inlets - and plunders the City of Vigo
July 2, 1589 - Plymouth - Drake returns to Plymouth with Dom António, Prior of Crato
Sir Francis Drake, 1591

August 28, 1595 - Plymouth - Drake and John Hawkins set sail to the Antilles once more
September 24, 1595 - Lanzerote, Canary Islands - Drake and Hawkins reach the Canary Islands
September 27, 1595 - W-SW Lanzerote - After landing, the english replenish their ships with fresh water
October 27, 1595 - East of Martinique - The Island of Martinique is sighted
October 29, 1595 - Guadalupe - The english replenish their ships with fresh water in Guadalupe because of the presence of hostile indians in Dominica
November 8, 1595 - Virgin Islands - The english anchor at the Virgin Islands. Hawkins gets sick and Drake takes the command of the expedition
November 11, 1595 - SE of Puerto Rico - Arrival in Puerto Rico. Sir John Hawkins dies shortly after
November 23, 1595 - SE of Puerto Rico - Drake is forced to leave the proximity of the coast because of the spanish artillery
November 25, 1595 - Boquerón, SW of Puerto Rico - Frustrated, Drake sets sail to Panama, looking for a better prize
November 29, 1595 - Curaçao - Drake reaches Curaçao, where the ship is replenished with cattle
December 1, 1595 - Ríohacha, Colombia - Arrival in Ríohacha. The town is taken
December 14, 1595 - Ríohacha, Colombia - Drake returns and joins Baskerville
December 29, 1595 - Ríohacha, Colombia - The town is burned down
December 30, 1595 - Santa Marta, Colombia - Drake and Baskerville capture the Governor but find the city abandoned
January 6, 1596 - Nombre de Dios, Panama - Drake and Baskerville anchor at Nombre de Dios
January 25, 1596 - Nombre de Dios, Panama - The City is burned down. The english head west
January 27, 1596 - Island off Portobelo, Panama - Sir Francis Drake dies of dysentery, aboard the defiance, aged 55 =(END)

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