Sir Francis Drake

England 1577

Sir Francis Drake was a great adventurer. He had gained fame by stopping Spanish treasure ships and stealing the riches on the ships. He brought a lot of riches back to England. Drake was sent by England to explore the Americas. On December 12, 1577, he left Plymouth, England to find and northwest passage. He followed Magellan’s route around the tip of South America. Drake sailed up along the west coast of South America. As he found towns, we stopped and attacked them. Drake stole gold and silver from many, many towns. The people in England thought Sir Francis Drake was a hero. The Spaniards called him a pirate. (A pirate is a person who attacks and robs ships.) Drake sailed north past Mexico and up the coast. He claimed land along the northern coast of what is now California and southern Oregon.

The Spaniards were waiting for Drake to sail back around the tip of South America. Instead of heading back, Drake continued on. He sailed across the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. He sailed around the tip of Africa and sailed up the west coast of Africa. He arrived back in England in September 1580. Sir Francis Drake was the first person from England to sail around the world.

The United States Yesterday and Today

Authors:  Timothy Helmus, Edgar Toppin, Norman Pounds, Val Arnsdorf

Silver Burdett & Ginn Inc, 1990

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