Thomas Cavendish

Thomas Cavendish was an English privateer and explorer known as ‘The Navigator’. He was well-connected in London society and had influential friends in Queen Elizabeth’s I court. In 1585, Queen Elizabeth gave him permission to follow Francis Drake's route across the Pacific to the Spice Islands. Cavendish became extremely rich by plundering Spanish gold. He is remembered for his discovery of the ‘Port of Desire’ in Argentina, which was named after his flagship.

At the age of 28, Cavendish became the first to intentionally sail the entire globe. He managed to achieve this feat nine months faster than Drake. Cavendish's voyage is commemorated alongside Drake's on a beautiful map by Jodocus Hondius.