Francis Drake died on 28 January 1596 in Portobelo, aged about 56. An English sailor and privateer in the age of Elizabeth I, Drake made his name raiding Spanish ports and treasure ships in the Caribbean and on the Pacific coast of the Americas, for which the Spanish regarded him as a pirate. Between 1577 and 1580 he sailed around the world in the Golden Hind, the second expedition to complete the voyage and the first led by an Englishman, and Elizabeth knighted him on his ship on his return. As a vice admiral he played a leading part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. He died of dysentery in 1596 during an expedition against Spanish territories in the Caribbean and was buried at sea off Panama.
Before and after
- from 29 July 1593 to 11 November 1606Long War
- 2 February 1594Death of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
- June 1594Birth of Nicolas Poussin
- 1595Construction of Naqsh-e Jahan Square
- 28 January 1596Death of Francis Drake
- 31 March 1596Birth of René Descartes
- from June 1597 to August 1597Islands Voyage
- from 18 October 1597 to 15 November 1597Third Spanish Armada
- from 1598 to 1613Time of Troubles
More in Exploration & discovery
- 25 April 1507The name 'America' appears on a map
- 22 February 1512Death of Amerigo Vespucci
- from 10 August 1519 to 8 September 1522Magellan-Elcano expedition
- 6 September 1522Magellan's expedition completes the first circumnavigation
- 24 November 1605Janszoon voyage of 1606
- May 1607Jamestown
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.