Francis Drake From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the Elizabethan naval commander. For other uses, see Francis Drake (disambiguation) . Sir Francis Drake February–March 1540 – 27 January 1596 (aged 55) A 16th century oil on canvas portrait of Sir Francis Drake in Buckland Abbey , painting by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger . Nickname El Draque (spanish), Draco (latin, "The Dragon") Type Privateer Place of birth Tavistock , Devon , England Place of death Portobelo, Colón , Panama Allegiance England Years active 1563 – 1596 Rank Vice Admiral Base of operations Caribbean Sea Commands Golden Hind (previously known as Pelican ) Battles/wars Anglo–Spanish War (1585) Battle of Gravelines Sir Francis Drake , Vice Admiral (1540 – 27 January 1596) was an English sea captain , privateer , navigator , slaver , a renowned pirate , and a politician of the Elizabethan era . Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the ...