John Drake (privateer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Drake
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|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1560 Devon, England |
| Died | 1600s |
| Relations | Francis Drake (his uncle) |
| Occupation | Privateer |
| Profession | Sailor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of England |
| Years of service | 1575-1600s |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Anglo-Spanish War |
John Drake (born around 1560, died in the 1600s) was an English privateer. A privateer was like a sailor who had permission from their government to attack and capture enemy ships. John Drake tried to attack the Spanish Empire near the Río de la Plata in South America. He was the nephew of the famous sailor Francis Drake.
John Drake's Adventures
Around 1583, John Drake and his crew set sail from Plymouth, England. They were heading towards the southern Atlantic Ocean. His ship was called the Francis, a small sailing vessel about 40 tons. It was part of a bigger trip led by Edward Fenton that aimed to reach the Pacific Ocean.
Shipwreck and Capture
After a battle at São Vicente, the English ships separated. Drake decided to sail towards the Río de la Plata. This is a very wide river mouth between modern-day Uruguay and Argentina. Sadly, the Francis hit a sandbank near the river's entrance and was wrecked. This sandbank later became known as Banco Inglès (English Bank) because of this event.
John Drake and his men were captured by the Charrúa people, who were native to the area now known as Uruguay. They were held captive for some time. Only John Drake and his second-in-command survived this difficult experience.
Arrest and Imprisonment
After escaping the Charrúa, Drake and his second-in-command reached Buenos Aires. There, Spanish officials arrested them. They were then sent to the city of Santa Fe. Spanish authorities questioned them with the help of an English interpreter. Important officials like Don Juan de Torres de Vera y Aragón and Don Francisco Pérez de Burgos were present.
After being questioned, John Drake was moved to Asunción and then to Lima, in what is now Peru. He was put on trial and sentenced to stay in prison for the rest of his life. In 1587, a Portuguese pilot said that Drake was still alive and well in Peru. John Drake never returned to England. The last official mention of him in Spanish records was in 1595. This happened during the trial of another English sailor, Richard Hawkins, who was captured in San Mateo's Bay.
Some information about Francis Drake's circumnavigation (his trip around the world) came from John Drake's questioning in Lima.
