In 1577, Francis Drake led an expedition consisting of five ships and 160 crew members from Plymouth to embark on a journey around the world. Three years later, only one ship, the Golden Hind, returned to England.
Upon crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Drake decided to leave two ships on the eastern coast of South America and continued the voyage with the remaining three ships. They managed to find a way around the southern tip of the continent. However, severe storms in the Pacific Ocean destroyed one ship and forced another to retreat.
The Golden Hind then headed north, where Drake and his crew launched attacks on Spanish ports in order to seize gold and capture Spanish ships to acquire their maps and treasures. Due to his successful exploits, Drake earned the title of 'The Master Thief of the Unknown World.'
Subsequently, Drake and his crew sailed to North America, crossed to the Moluccas Islands, and navigated around Africa before finally arriving back in England in September 1580. In recognition of his achievements, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake, making him the first Englishman to complete a circumnavigation of the globe. This remarkable journey led to significant discoveries and the acquisition of valuable treasures.