How Did Francis Drake Get Into Sailing?

Francis Drake, born in 1567, joined the slave trade with his cousin John Hawkins in Africa. After repairing their ship and replenishing food supplies, Drake set sail across the Pacific, through the Indian Ocean, and around the Cape of Good Hope. At age ten, he was already sailing the Thames in a small bark. In 1563 CE, he first went to sea proper and joined his cousin John Hawkins three years later.

Drake sailed from Plymouth on December 13, 1577, with a squadron consisting of five vessels, including the Pelican, Drake’s own ship, renamed Golden Hind. He was taught sailing and navigation skills while being provided food and shelter. In 1567, Drake worked for his cousin John Hawkins, who was a merchant and privateer. After crossing the Atlantic, Drake abandoned two of his ships in South America and sailed into the Straits of Magellan with the remaining three.

Drake was brought up in Plymouth by the Hawkins family, who worked as merchants and pirates. He went to sea at the age of 18 with the Hawkins family fleet and by the 1560s had earned command of his own ship. In July 1579, he sailed west across the Pacific and sighted a line of islands, possibly the remote Palau group. In 1572, he set sail on his first independent mission, privateering along the Spanish Main.

Queen Elizabeth I enlisted Drake as a privateer in 1572, allowing him to raid enemy ships and cargoes. By October 1578, only one of his ships remained, the Pelican, renamed Golden Hind.