Sir Francis Drake was an English sea captain, privateer, and explorer born around 1540. He is best known for his circumnavigation of the globe from 1577 to 1580, making him the first Englishman to achieve this feat. Drake was also a key figure in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, which helped establish England as a major naval power. Drake's voyages contributed to the expansion of the British Empire and increased trade routes. He was a controversial figure, celebrated as a hero in England while viewed as a pirate by the Spanish. His legacy includes his role in the age of exploration and maritime warfare.