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Sir Francis Drake Research Paper

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Sir Francis Drake
Francis Drake was an important figure in the Elizabethan era. He is known for his great expeditions and Elizabeth’s gratitude towards his piracy. He was a hero to the English and a menace to the Spaniards. Francis Drake had a fairly known life, great voyages, and success in the Elizabethan era.
In the case of Francis Drake, his ancestors were dimly known and his boyhood obscure. Drake was born in Tavistock, Devon, England. His exact birth year is not known, but said to be around 1540-43. Drake’s father, Edmund Drake, was a farmer from Crowndale, Devon. The family was not the type to cause trouble. Drake’s departure of his father had no affect to him (Kelsey).
Drake was a natural sailor. He was not born to sea, but was raised in a seafaring family. Being raised in the Devon coast society, piracy was not unfamiliar to him (Kelsey). His father apprenticed him to their neighbor, the master of a barque, used for transporting merchandise to France. The neighbor was so satisfied by Drake’s conduct, at his death, he granted the barque to Drake (Wikipedia). …show more content…

All of Francis’ early voyages were in vessels belonging to the Hawkins. Young Francis adopted the religious practices of the Hawkins family of Plymouth (Sugden).
Being busy most of his life, Francis Drake never really formed a family. In 1569, Drake married Mary Newman. She died 12 years later, in 1581. In 1585, Drake then married Elizabeth Sydenham. After Drake's death, Elizabeth married Sir William Courtenay of Powderham

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