Discover the Unexpected: Top 8 Fun Facts About the Adventurous Sir Francis Drake

1. Pirate Romance

Ahoy there, lovebirds on the high seas! The next time you pen a tender letter to your beloved, remember that even pirates have a soft side: Sir Francis Drake, the fearless seaman and adventurer, was not only married to a lass named Mary Newman in 1569 but also fathered two sons, ensuring he kept in constant touch with his family through letters, and even brought his oldest son along for an unforgettable voyage.
Source => visitplymouth.co.uk

2. Potato Fibs & Tobacco Craze

Hold onto your spuds – it’s about to get smashin’ here: Sir Francis Drake wasn't the one to bring potatoes to England after all, as the Spanish already introduced these tasty tubers a decade prior to his voyage to America; however, he did sneak tobacco into the country and sparked a smokin' European craze!
Source => rmg.co.uk

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=> Fun Facts about Explorers

3. From Slavery Trade to Spanish Plunder

Before he graduated from "Swashbuckling U" with a major in cold, hard piracy: Sir Francis Drake started his career as the Robin to Sir John Hawkins' Batman in the English slaving business; however, after the class of '67, he pivoted from being a slaver to a full-time Spanish cargo plunderer, leaving the trading of human lives behind.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. A Treasure Fit for Jack Sparrow

Ahoy, matey! Who needs sequels when the original pirate, Sir Francis Drake, was nabbing booty that would even make Captain Jack Sparrow jealous: During his journey on the Golden Hind, Drake captured the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, obtaining the largest treasure ever seized - over 360,000 pesos, equivalent to around £480 million in 2017, which included 26 tons of silver, half a ton of gold, porcelain, jewellery, coins, and jewels.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Cannonball Close Call

They say fortune favors the bold, but it seems to have particularly favored one intrepid seafarer in an area of his anatomy not usually associated with luck: Sir Francis Drake once had a cannonball whizz right between his legs in the heat of battle, and lived to tell the tale!
Source => rmg.co.uk

6. Golden Hind Rebrand

If Sir Francis Drake were a present-day influencer, he'd have captioned his Instagram post: "New ship, who dis? 🚢✨🌍": Changing the name of his ship from the Pelican to the more fabulous and unforgettable Golden Hind, Drake paid tribute to his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, and made sure his vessel aligned with the impressive coat of arms flaunting a golden hind. With this stylish rebrand, the Golden Hind and Drake himself became iconic symbols of England's naval power and exploration during the Elizabethan era.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Spain's Fire-breathing Beast

Why did the Spanish call Sir Francis Drake a scaly, fire-breathing beast? Well of course, it's because his privateering escapades spiced up their lives like a shot of dragon's fire: Sir Francis Drake was infamously dubbed "El Draque," or "The Dragon," by the Spanish, who saw him as a fearsome and relentless privateer wreaking havoc on the Spanish Empire, ultimately earning him hero status among the English while simultaneously branding him a dastardly pirate among the Spanish, with their many detailed accounts showcasing his notorious impact.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Mysterious Ocean Funeral

While Sir Francis Drake may have been a trailblazer, it seems that even the ocean is reluctant to "spill the tea" on his exact whereabouts: Despite being buried at sea off the coast of Portobelo, Panama, in 1596, his lead coffin and final resting place have yet to be discovered by divers.
Source => rmg.co.uk