Amyas Preston facts for kids
Amyas Preston (died 1609) was an English privateer. A privateer was like a legal pirate, hired by the government to attack enemy ships. He lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He spent much of his career sailing in the Caribbean Sea. Other famous English sailors like Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh also sailed there.
Amyas Preston is best known for two things. First, he fought in the big naval battle against the Spanish Armada in 1588. Second, he helped capture and burn the city of Caracas in 1595. This event is called the Preston–Somers expedition.
Biography
Preston's Early Life
We do not know much about Amyas Preston's childhood. It is thought he came from a place called Cricket St Thomas in Somerset, England. In 1581, he married a woman named Julian Burye in London.
His first experience in battle was in 1588. This was when England fought against the huge Spanish Armada. The English won this important battle near Calais. Preston was hurt during the fight, but he became well-known for his brave actions.
Capturing Caracas
In 1595, Preston went on a big sea trip called the Preston Somers Expedition. He led this trip with another sailor named George Somers. Their first plan was to meet Walter Raleigh for his search for a golden city called El Dorado.
They did not meet Raleigh in Trinidad. So, Preston and Somers decided to sail along the coast of Spanish Venezuela Province. They first captured a fort called La Guaira. Then, they took over the colonial city of Caracas.
The Spanish people in Caracas did not pay the money Preston asked for. So, Preston and Somers ordered their men to take valuable items from the city. They also set parts of the city on fire. After that, they captured another city called Coro.
Their expedition ended when many sailors got very sick. About 80 men died from this illness. The crew's spirits dropped, so they stopped their attacks. They sailed back to safe English areas by way of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Later, they met Raleigh's ships and sailed back to England together.
Later in Life
After the Caracas trip, Preston went on other smaller journeys. These trips were often not very successful in making money. He took part in the Capture of Cádiz and an expedition to the Azores.
He was knighted for his bravery during the fighting for Cádiz. This means he was given the title "Sir." He was knighted by either Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex or Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham. These men were the leaders of that expedition.
Around 1601, Preston had some disagreements with Walter Raleigh. They even challenged each other to a duel, which is a fight between two people. But they later became friends again.
In 1603, Amyas Preston got an important job. He became the quartermaster of the Tower of London. He kept this job until he died in 1609. Before he died, he also worked on the council for the Virginia Company. This company helped set up English colonies in America.
See also
In Spanish: Amyas Preston para niños
