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Francis Drake

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Explorer

The Resume

    (1540-January 28, 1596)
    Grew up in an old ship in Kent
    Trained as a sailor
    Naval Officer/Pirate/Explorer
    His captain, who had no family, willed his ship to him (1550s)
    Married Mary Newman (1569)
    Several years later Drake assembled a fleet and began raiding Spanish settlements in the New World
    Sailed from Plymouth to circumnavigate the globe and attack Spanish towns, financed by Queen Elizabeth I (1577)
    Seized the Spanish galleon 'Cacafuego,' which was loaded with massive amounts of treasure (1579)
    Returned to Britain and was knighted by the queen (1580)
    Made mayor of Plymouth
    Fought in the war between Britain and Spain
    Died off the coast of Panama, possibly of yellow fever or dysentery

Why he might be annoying:

    His father was allegedly involved in petty crimes.
    He traded in slaves early in his career.
    When a battle between his fleet and the Spanish Armada was imminent, he insisted on finishing his game of bowling rather than ready his fleet.
    He engaged in piratic behavior against Spanish shipping.
    He was buried at sea.
    His contemporaries disliked him.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He routed a potential Spanish invasion of Britain by destroying over 100 vessels at Cadiz.
    Queen Elizabeth made a 47-fold profit on his expedition.
    He contributed to the rise of Britain as a major power.
    He was the first Briton to circumnavigate the globe.

Credit: Wang


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 23 Votes: 21.74% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 80 Votes: 65.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 45 Votes: 35.56% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 51 Votes: 35.29% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 102 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 150 Votes: 50.67% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 297 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 263 Votes: 46.39% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 146 Votes: 46.58% Annoying