Drake Leaves to Circumnavigate the World

On this day Sir Francis Drake set out from Plymouth in the south of England on his famous quest to circumnavigate the world. The expedition was termed a ‘voyage of discovery’, but was in effect an ambitious covert raiding voyage and the start of England’s challenge to the global maritime domination of Spain and Portugal. Drake’s capturing of Spanish ships and plundering of Spanish settlements during the voyage was one of the main factors that eventually led to the start of the Anglo-Spanish war in 1585.

Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987. View all posts by Tony