James Erisey facts for kids

James Erisey was an English sailor and privateer from Cornwall. He lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I and was known for sailing with the famous explorer and privateer, Sir Francis Drake. Erisey played a part in important historical events, including the fight against the Spanish Armada.

Who Was James Erisey?

James Erisey was born in Cornwall, England, near a place called Mullion. His family home was Erisey House. Not much is known about his early life, but he became a skilled sailor.

Sailing as a Privateer

A privateer was like a government-approved pirate. Privateers were private ship owners or captains who were given permission by their government to attack and capture enemy ships, especially merchant ships. They would share the valuable goods they captured with the government. This was a common way for countries to weaken their enemies during wartime.

In 1585, Queen Elizabeth I of England gave permission for privateers to attack Spanish ships. Spain and England were often rivals during this period. Sir Francis Drake, a very famous English privateer, hired James Erisey to be a captain. Erisey commanded a ship called a man-o-war, which was a powerful warship.

With Sir Francis Drake

James Erisey sailed with Sir Francis Drake on several important voyages.

• 1585-1586 Voyages: Erisey was part of Drake's fleet that sailed to the Americas. During this expedition, he was one of the early English colonists who went to Roanoke Island. This was an early attempt by England to set up a colony in North America.
• Captain of the White Lion: Erisey was the captain of a private warship named the "White Lion." This ship belonged to Charles Lord Howard, who was the Lord Admiral of England at the time.

Fighting the Spanish Armada

In 1588, England faced a huge threat: the Spanish Armada. This was a massive fleet of Spanish warships sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade England.

James Erisey was with Sir Francis Drake's fleet at Plymouth. When the Spanish Armada approached, Drake and Erisey, along with many other English captains, sailed out to meet them. They fought bravely against the Spanish invasion fleet. Sir Richard Grenville, another famous English sailor and Erisey's cousin, was also part of Drake's fleet during this crucial battle. The English victory against the Spanish Armada was a very important moment in English history.