Admiral John Hawkins is often remembered as one of the greatest men in the early English navy. Along with his cousin and companion Sir Francis Drake, he helped defeat the Spanish Armada and cement England’s role as ruler of the seas. But like most men who fell under the category of “Sea Dogs”, his careers was filled with a blood-thirsty ruthlessness far removed from the modern ideas of heroes.
Hawkins began his career on the high seas in 1555 when he left England with three ships on a somewhat unspecified mission to the Spanish Main (the modern Caribbean). On the way, Hawkins captured a Portuguese slave ship carrying 300 slaves. He sold the slaves in Hispaniola (modern Haiti) and thus made a huge profit on the voyage.
Nearly ten years later, with relations between Spain and England turning sour, Hawkins set out again with four ships, one of them owned by Queen Elizabeth. In Africa, Hawkins kidnapped 400 tribesmen and set sail for the Main. Hawkins took his captives to the town of Borburata in Venezuela.
When the Spanish officials tried to impose severe taxes on the sale, Hawkins threatened to burn the whole town down. The Spanish relented, the slaves were sold, and Hawkins returned to England as a hero, having turned another large profit.
It was probably during one of these voyages that Hawkins brought back the potato to England, though this cannot be fully verified.
In 1567, Hawkins attempted a third voyage, but this time his luck ran out. After kidnapping more Africans, Hawkins small fleet was ambushed by the Spanish. His small fleet was destroyed with only his ship and the one commanded by his friend and cousin Sir Francis Drake escaping.
For the next fifteen years, John Hawkins took up politics and political intrigue. He served as a spy against Spain (and is thought to have uncovered the Armada Plot) and also as a Member of Parliament where he forced through a number of naval reforms.
In 1588, he took to the seas again, this time serving as Vice Admiral under Francis Drake in the fleet that repulsed the Spanish Armada. Again John Hawkins was hailed as a hero.
In 1595, at the age of 63, John Hawkins once again set off on another treasure hunting expedition with Francis Drake. However, off the shores of Puerto Rico, John Hawkins got sick and soon died.
John Hawkins has left a confused legacy. There is no doubting that he was instrumental in the development of England as a naval superpower and that his voyages would make possible such endeavours as the settlement of America, but he was also one of the initiators of a horrific commerce in human beings that would continue for nearly another 300 years.
