Why Is Sir Francis Drake Famous?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 24, 2020

Sir Francis Drake was famous for his many exploits, including the circumnavigation of the earth and his numerous raids on the Spanish fleets. While Drake was granted knighthood by Queen Elizabeth I and was second in command of the English Fleet, he was considered a pirate by the Spanish.

During Drake’s voyage around the globe, he made numerous important discoveries. One of which was the California coast, where he stopped to restock his ship and do repairs. He spent time with the Native Americans there and claimed the land for Britain. From there, he traveled further west and around Africa, finally arriving back in Britain in 1580, where he was knighted and eventually became the mayor of Plymouth.