John Oxenham facts for kids
John Oxenham (also known as "John Oxnam", died September 30, 1580) was an English explorer and a type of sailor called a privateer. A privateer was like a pirate, but they had permission from their government to attack enemy ships. In 1575, John Oxenham became the first non-Spanish European to cross the Isthmus of Panama. This is a very narrow strip of land that connects North and South America. He climbed over the coastal mountains (called a cordillera) to reach the Pacific Ocean, which the Spanish at the time called the Mar del Sur (meaning 'Southern Sea').
He started his journey from a place called Acla (in what is now Darién Province). He then went down to the Chucunaque River. This was the same river that another famous explorer, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, had used in 1513. Oxenham first followed the coast to a town called Careta. Then, he got help from the Cimarrones for the rest of his journey. The Cimarrones were groups of people who had escaped slavery and formed their own communities.
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Exciting Journeys to the New World
First Adventure with Francis Drake
In May 1572, John Oxenham joined a big trip led by the famous English explorer Francis Drake. Drake's brothers, John and Joseph, were also on this journey, but sadly they both passed away during it. They left Plymouth, England, with 73 men on two ships, the Pasha and the Swanet.
They set up a secret base in a small bay in the Isthmus of Panama. From there, they raided places like the Isle of Pines, Cartagena, and Nombre de Dios. This was to distract the Spanish. With the help of the Cimarrones, they set a trap on a path where the Spanish moved silver across Panama. They managed to capture a train of mules carrying lots of silver during the night! The few guards quickly ran away. Drake then sailed back to Plymouth in August 1573 with a huge amount of treasure.
Oxenham's Own Big Trip
After being part of Drake's successful journey, John Oxenham decided to lead his own trip to Panama. He left Plymouth on April 9, 1576. He had a ship with 11 cannons and 57 men. Along the way, he captured some enemy ships and their goods (these were called "prizes"). He then hid his ship and the captured prizes.
Next, Oxenham and his men went onto the mainland of Panama. The Cimarrones guided them across the Cordillera de San Blas mountains to the start of the Chucunaque River. This river flows into the Pacific Ocean. During the winter, Oxenham's men and their Cimarron friends cut down cedar trees. They used the wood to build a special boat. It was 45 feet long, had oars, and could sail in shallow water. They then floated this boat down the river and into the Pacific Ocean. This made Oxenham the first Englishman to build a ship in the New World (the Americas)!
The Spanish were completely surprised because they didn't expect to see an enemy ship in the Pacific Ocean. Oxenham's crew quickly captured two Spanish sailing ships (called barques) that were not guarded. These ships were carrying a lot of silver and gold, about 160,000 Spanish pesetas, along with other supplies.
However, the Spanish eventually started chasing Oxenham up the Tuira River. Oxenham's men had thrown some trash into the river, and this floating trash gave away their position. Oxenham tried to hide the treasure by burying it, but the Spanish later found most of it. Oxenham was hurt in the Spanish attack, but he managed to escape with a few of his crew members. They survived for several months while on the run.
Eventually, the Spanish captured Oxenham and 17 other people. They were taken to Panama in 1578. Three young boys were allowed to live, but 12 others were sadly punished. John Oxenham was captured and later died in Lima on September 30, 1580. Two of his companions, John Butler and Thomas Sherwell, also died with him. At the same time, his old commander, Francis Drake, was also in the Pacific Ocean on his famous raids in his ship, the Golden Hind.
See also
In Spanish: John Oxenham para niños
