Richard Hawkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Richard Hawkins
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Portrait by an unknown artist in the
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich |
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| Born | c. 1562 |
| Died | 17 April 1622 |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Navy, Privateer |
| Title | Sir |
| Parent(s) | Admiral Sir John Hawkins |
Sir Richard Hawkins (born around 1562, died April 17, 1622) was an English sailor, explorer, and privateer from the 1600s. He was the son of Admiral Sir John Hawkins, a famous English naval commander. Richard Hawkins became known for his adventures at sea, including exploring new lands and fighting against Spanish ships.
Contents
Early Life and Voyages
Richard Hawkins grew up around ships and the sea. In 1582, he sailed to the West Indies with his uncle, William Hawkins. This was an early adventure for him.
Later, in 1585, he was a captain on Sir Francis Drake's trip to the Spanish Main, which was the northern coast of South America. In 1588, he commanded a queen's ship during the famous battle against the Spanish Armada. This was a huge naval battle where England defended itself from a Spanish invasion. In 1590, he joined his father's expedition near the coast of Portugal.
The Dainty Expedition
In 1593, Hawkins bought a ship called the Dainty. This ship was originally built for his father's voyages of discovery. Hawkins set sail for the West Indies, the Spanish Main, and the South Seas. His main goal was to capture Spanish ships and goods, but he also claimed his trip was for exploring new places.
Discovering New Lands
After visiting the coast of Brazil, the Dainty faced a big storm near the Strait of Magellan. On February 2, 1594, Hawkins and his crew saw land they didn't expect. He described it as having "great Rivers of fresh waters."
Hawkins named this land "Hawkins Maiden land" in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, who was known as the "Maiden Queen." Today, this land is known as the Falkland Islands.
Capture and Release
Hawkins then sailed back to the South American mainland and went through the Straits of Magellan. He eventually reached Valparaíso in Chile and took goods from the town.
He continued sailing north. In June 1594, a year after leaving England, he arrived in the Bay of San Mateo, near the Esmeraldas River in what is now Ecuador. Here, two Spanish ships attacked the Dainty. Hawkins and his crew fought bravely, but they were greatly outnumbered.
Hawkins was badly wounded, and 27 of his men were killed. The Dainty was almost sinking. On July 1, 1594, he surrendered after the Spanish commander promised to let him and his crew leave the country safely. However, this promise was not kept. Hawkins was sent to Spain and imprisoned first in Seville and then in Madrid.
He was finally released in 1602. When he returned to England, he was made a knight in 1603. That same year, he was elected Mayor of Plymouth.
Fighting Scurvy
During his long voyage, Hawkins noticed something very important about a disease called scurvy. Scurvy was a terrible illness that often affected sailors on long trips, making them weak and sick. Hawkins observed that eating "sour oranges and lemons" helped to treat scurvy.
While another person, James Lind, is often given credit for proving that citrus fruits could cure scurvy much later, Hawkins was convinced of its benefits more than a century earlier. He wrote about it, saying it was a "wonderful secret" that God had put in this fruit to be a "certain remedy for this infirmity." This shows he understood the importance of fresh fruits for sailors' health.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1604, Richard Hawkins became a Member of Parliament for Plymouth. He also became the Vice-Admiral of Devon. This was an important job because the coast was full of pirates, and he had to help keep the seas safe.
From 1620 to 1621, he served as a vice-admiral in a fleet sent to the Mediterranean Sea. Their mission was to stop the Algerian corsairs, who were also a type of pirate.
Sir Richard Hawkins died in London on April 17, 1622.
He wrote a book about his travels called Voiage into the South Sea (1622). This book became a very famous adventure story from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. It was later republished and even inspired parts of the novel Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley. In his writings, Hawkins described the Spanish people in the Americas in a positive way, calling them "temperate" and "gentle."
See also
In Spanish: Richard Hawkins para niños
