Sir Francis Drake Had Helped Defeat the Spanish Armada - But His Final Voyage Ended in Tragedy

In my last Tudor post, we followed the English Armada of 1589 and its disastrous attempt to strike another blow against Spain. Sir Francis Drake had helped command that expedition, and its failure damaged the reputation he had built through years of successful voyages.

Six years later, he had another opportunity. On the 28th of August 1595, Drake sailed from Plymouth alongside Sir John Hawkins, an experienced seaman he had known for decades. Earlier in their careers, both men had taken part in a voyage that carried enslaved Africans across the Atlantic, a part of their history that should not be forgotten.

This time, they were heading for the Caribbean, hoping to attack Spanish possessions and capture treasure. One of their main targets was San Juan in Puerto Rico, where a damaged Spanish treasure ship had taken refuge. Its valuable cargo had already been taken ashore for safekeeping.

By the time the English arrived in November, the Spanish were ready. Hawkins died before the assault on San Juan, leaving Drake to continue without his fellow commander. The English attempted to force their way into the harbour, but the Spanish defenders drove them back.

Drake continued the expedition along the northern coast of South America. His men captured Riohacha and burned the nearby settlement of Lancheria before moving on to Santa Marta, which they also attacked and burned.

The fleet then sailed to Nombre de Dios, in present-day Panama. Although the English took the town, much of the treasure they hoped to find had already been moved. Sir Thomas Baskerville led soldiers across the isthmus towards Panama City, but difficult terrain, dwindling supplies and Spanish resistance forced them to turn back.

Illness was spreading among the men, and Drake himself became seriously unwell. On the 28th of January 1596, he died of dysentery aboard the Defiance, off the coast of what is now Portobelo, Panama. He was buried at sea in a lead coffin the following day.

Drake’s name is so closely associated with England’s victory over the Spanish Armada that it’s easy to overlook the final years of his career. His last expedition had brought neither the great treasure nor the victory he had hoped for, and neither commander survived it.

I find it interesting that we remember so much about Drake’s earlier achievements, but hear comparatively little about how his career ended.

Had you heard about Sir Francis Drake’s final voyage, or is this part of his story new to you?

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Image info:

Sir Francis Drake, 1591, by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.