Who was Francis Drake? How did he contribute to the rivalry between England and Spain?

The most famous Englishman of the XVI century, no doubt, was Francis Drake. An English navigator, pirate, Vice Admiral (1588). Which played a decisive role in the defeat of the Spanish "Invincible Armada".

Francis Drake decided to do his own pirate craft. He began attacking Spanish ships carrying treasures. For 12 years, Captain Drake has accumulated a considerable maritime experience and some capital, which allowed him to offer the Queen and her approximate project pirate expedition to Spanish colonies on the Pacific coast of America.

The English Queen was sympathetic to Drake's plans and even made a contribution to the expedition's financial support.

Answer 1:

Francis Drake was an English privateer, slave trader, naval officer, sea captain and explorer of the Elizabethan era. Drake carried out the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580, and he was the first to complete the voyage as captain. He was a loyal subject of Elizabeth I and he was given a place in British History.

Answer 2:

Drake was vice admiral in command of the English fleet when it overcame the Spanish Armada that was attempting to attack and invade England in the year 1588. As the English fleet pursued the Armada up the English Channel in closing darkness, Drake broke off and captured the Spanish galleon Rosario, along with Admiral Pedro de Valdés and all his crew. By extinguishing this for the capture, Drake put the fleet into disarray overnight. Elizabeth I awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581 which he received on the Golden Hind in Deptford.