Final Expeditions & Death
In 1589, Queen Elizabeth I ordered Sir Francis Drake to find and destroy any remaining ships of the Armada, and help the Portuguese rebels in Lisbon fighting against the Spanish currently occupying the area. The expedition was devostating and Francis Drake lost 20 ships and more than 12,000 men died. Drake returned home and for the next several years he was very busy being the mayor of Plymouth.
In 1595, Queen Elizabeth I called on Sir Francis Drake again to carry on war on Spain. John Hawkins, Drake's cousin accompanied him. They had to capture Spain's treasure in Panama hoping to cut off revenue and ending the war. After a few fights in the Caribbean, Drake's crew moved west and set the anchor off the coast of Portobello, Panama. |
In Portobello, Drake contracted dysentery and on January 28, 1596, died of a fever. He was buried in a lead coffin at sea near Portobello, Panama. Divers continue to search for the coffin.
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