Explorers in the Elizabethan Era

This section explores the role of three key explorers in the Elizabethan era: Sir Francis Drake, John Hawkins, and Walter Raleigh. The Elizabethan era was a time of significant advancements in the fields of navigation and exploration, allowing England to expand its influence across the globe. The primary goal of these voyages was to establish new trade routes, particularly with countries in the Americas and the East Indies. Among the most famous and influential explorers of this period were Sir Francis Drake, John Hawkins, and Walter Raleigh, who played key roles in shaping England's maritime and colonial ambitions.

Sir Francis Drake

Profile
Sir Francis Drake was the most celebrated seaman of Elizabeth I’s reign, renowned for his daring exploits and controversial career. He has been regarded by some as a national hero, while others view him as a pirate and a villain. Drake was born into a Puritan family with a strong antipathy towards Catholicism, particularly against Spain, which was a dominant Catholic power at the time.

Notable Expeditions
Drake’s career began in 1566 as a slave trader, although it was his pirate attacks on the Spanish that brought him to prominence. In 1568, after being attacked by the Spanish at San Juan de Ulúa in Mexico, where he lost four ships and over 300 men, Drake sought revenge on Spain.
In 1577, Drake became the first Englishman to sail around the world, circumnavigating the globe over a three-year journey. This remarkable achievement increased his fame and solidified his reputation as one of England’s greatest explorers. During the Spanish Armada in 1588, he played a key role in delaying Spanish preparations by attacking Cadiz in 1587. He was also appointed Vice-Admiral in the English fleet during the Armada campaign.

Impact:

• Attacks on Spain: Drake's raids on the Spanish Empire were immensely profitable, bringing back gold, silver, and precious jewels, which contributed to the wealth of England.
• Claiming New Lands: He also claimed new territories for England, such as parts of the Americas, and established valuable trade connections, particularly with the Spice Islands.
• Royal Recognition: Elizabeth I, knighted Drake in 1581, elevating him to the status of an admiral and cementing his place in English history as a national hero.

John Hawkins

Profile
John Hawkins, a cousin of Sir Francis Drake, was a key figure in the development of England’s naval power. He was known for his involvement in the slave trade and for making significant contributions to the design of England’s naval ships.

Notable Expeditions
Hawkins embarked on three major voyages during the 1560s, during which he captured Africans and sold them into slavery in the Spanish colonies of Central America. This trade was highly profitable, although it put him at odds with the Spanish. After these expeditions, Hawkins returned to England and began working on improving the design of naval ships, creating more effective fighting vessels. Elizabeth I, recognised his expertise and appointed him Vice-Admiral in the fleet that fought against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

Impact:

• Fighting Galleons: Hawkins played a key role in developing a new type of fighting galleon; ships that were faster, lighter, and more resistant to adverse weather conditions compared to the Spanish fleet’s vessels. This innovation proved crucial in England’s victory over the Spanish Armada.
• Naval Expertise: Hawkins’ work in shipbuilding and naval tactics helped lay the groundwork for England’s growing dominance at sea, influencing subsequent naval battles.

Walter Raleigh

Profile
Walter Raleigh was a famous sailor, explorer, and courtier during Elizabeth I’s reign. Known for his ambitious privateering expeditions against the Spanish, Raleigh was also deeply involved in the English attempts to establish colonies in the New World. His most famous venture was the establishment of a colony on Roanoke Island in North America.

Notable Expeditions
In 1584, Raleigh secured a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth to establish a colony on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. He organised two expeditions to settle the area, the first of which returned to England after a year. The second group of settlers was left behind, but they mysteriously disappeared by 1590. The fate of these settlers remains one of the enduring mysteries of early American history, and the colony is often referred to as “The Lost Colony”.
Although Raleigh did not play a major role in the Spanish Armada campaign, he was instrumental in promoting the idea of English colonisation of the Americas, believing that such colonies could provide England with valuable resources and reduce reliance on trade with Europe.

Impact:

• Colonial Ambitions: Raleigh’s failed attempt to establish a permanent colony in North America was part of a broader vision to expand England’s influence overseas. He hoped that colonies would provide England with resources such as wine, oil, sugar, and flax, making England less dependent on European trade.
• Royal Favour and Imprisonment: Raleigh’s later years were marked by dramatic shifts in his fortunes. In 1592, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for secretly marrying one of Elizabeth’s ladies-in-waiting. However, he was released later that year to lead a successful naval campaign against the Spanish. He was imprisoned again in 1603, and after his release, he became a Member of Parliament.
• Literary Contributions: While imprisoned, Raleigh turned to writing. He authored several works, including a history of the world and several poems, further cementing his legacy as a figure of intellectual and literary achievement.

Conclusion

Francis Drake, John Hawkins, and Walter Raleigh were three of the most significant explorers of the Elizabethan era. Each contributed in different ways to the expansion of England’s influence at sea and overseas. While Drake and Hawkins were instrumental in defeating the Spanish, securing wealth for England, and establishing naval superiority, Raleigh focused on the long-term goal of colonisation in North America. Their voyages and efforts, though marked by both triumph and failure, played a crucial role in England’s rise as a global power and laid the groundwork for future exploration and colonial endeavours.