Sir Francis Drake was a British explorer, privateer, and naval officer born in Devonshire, England between 1540-1543. He was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe between 1577-1580 aboard the Golden Hind. Drake defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 and plundered Spanish ships and towns. He died of dysentery off the coast of Panama in 1596 while on a treasure voyage.