Francis Drake was an English seaman born in 1543 who spent most of his life raiding Spanish possessions. In 1577, Drake sailed around the world aboard the Golden Hind with a crew of 150 men. The purpose of the journey was to search for the Northwest Passage and engage in plunder. Drake encountered challenges like being attacked by local people in Mocha Island, where he was wounded by an arrow. However, he made important historical contributions by discovering the connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and claiming land in modern-day California for England, becoming the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe.