Many famous seafarers of the Middle Ages imprinted the names in the name of various geographical places. History distinguishes many pioneers from outstanding seafarers. The name of Francis Drake is included into this number. Besides, Drake's identity is known to much thanks to his piracy activity.
Francis Drake (1540 - 1596) is known to most of people, first of all, as the person in whose honor the passage was called. It is between Antarctica and Tierra Del Fuego, and Drake the first found his existence though till some time was considered that Tierra del Fuego and the Southern continent – a whole.
This person began the life of the seafarer in 12 years when arrived on service the ship's boy on the ship of the distant relative. The last so became attached to the boy that bequeathed to him the ship after death, and in 18 years young Francis became its owner.
In 1567 there was an event which pushed Drake on the way of the corsair. He ordered the ship in an expedition which was plundered and almost all is sunk by Spaniards. After that, yet to nobody the famous sailor decided that he will take away from Spaniards that it is necessary to him. The drag hook kept the promise. During the raid in the Spanish possession, besides several vessels and the city with the name of Nombre-de-Dyos, it took "A silver caravan" with 30 tons of silver. This expedition made it to the rich and brought glory of the gallant captain.
Since November, 1577, and till September, 1580 by order of the queen Elizabeth, the coast of America where was engaged in robbery of the Spanish ports had Francis Drake in an expedition. Having returned to England, it brought to a treasure crown, estimated at 600 thousand pounds and hitherto unprecedented potatoes. In Germany delivered it a monument as to the person who extended the known vegetable across Europe.