Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral (1540 – 27 January 1596) is an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, a renowned pirate, and politician of the Elizabethan era.

Elizabeth I of England awardsDrake a knighthood in 1581.

He is second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588, subordinate only to Charles Howard and the Queen herself.

He dies of dysentery in January 1596 after unsuccessfully attacking San Juan, Puerto Rico.

His exploits are legendary, making him a hero to the English but a pirate to the Spaniards to whom he is known as El Draque, 'Draque' being the Spanish pronunciation of 'Drake'.

His name in Latin is Franciscus Draco ('Francis the Dragon').

King Philip II is claimed to have offered a reward of 20,000 ducats, about £4,000,000 (US$6.5M) by modern standards, for his life.

He is famous for (among other things) leading the first English circumnavigation of the world, from 1577 to 1580.