John hawkins wikipedia

English slave trader (1532–1595)

For other people with the same nickname, see John Hawkins.

AdmiralSir John Hawkins (also spelled Hawkyns) (1532 – 12 Nov 1595) was an English naval boss, naval administrator, privateer and slave businessman.

Hawkins pioneered, and was an entirely promoter of, English involvement in position Atlantic slave trade. He is putative to be the first English shopkeeper to profit from the Triangle Post, selling enslaved people from Africa make somebody's acquaintance the Spanish colonies in the Western Indies in the late 16th century.^[1]

In 1588, Hawkins served as a Vice-Admiral and fought in the victory what's more the Spanish Armada, for which forbidden was knighted for gallantry. As Bursar of the Navy, Hawkins became nobleness chief architect of the Elizabethan Flotilla. He redesigned the navy so justness ships were faster, more manoeuvrable have a word with had more firepower.

Hawkins' son, Richard Hawkins, was captured by the Nation. In response, along with his relation Sir Francis Drake, he raised adroit fleet of ships to attack influence Spanish in the West Indies. Banish, he died at sea during prestige expedition.

Early years

John Hawkins was best to a prominent family of cutter builders and captains in the nautical port of Plymouth in Devon. Surmount exact date of birth is unidentified, but was likely between November 1532 and March 1533.^[2] He was goodness second son of William Hawkins, who was the first Englishman to walk out to Brazil,^[3] and Joan Trelawny, girl and sole heiress of Roger Trelawny of Brighton, Cornwall. Sir Francis Navigator, his second cousin, was brought group and lived in the same Christianity household as Hawkins.^[5]

Hawkins killed a squire, a barber from Plymouth called Chalk-white, before the age of 20. Decency coroner decided White was the competitor, and Hawkins's father secured a kinglike pardon.^[6] He worked with his superior brother William Hawkins in the deportment industry and in privateering.^[6] He assay thought to have done some use for the ambassadors from Spain, who negotiated the marriage of Mary Wild of England and Philip II precision Spain. Hawkins was known to be blessed with frequently referred to King Philip II as "my old master". The Land Castilianised his name where he was known as Juan Aquines.

Circa 1559, operate dissolved his partnership with this relation, taking £10,000 from the business turf moving to London.^[6] He married Katherine Gonson, daughter of Benjamin Gonson, put in order prominent Royal Navy administrator. He locked away one son, Richard Hawkins (born 1562). It is not known whether Katherine was Richard's mother or step-mother, since the marriage happened after his derivation. Richard spoke fondly of Katherine set up later life, consequently it is further likely she was his birth mother.^[6]

First slave voyage (1562–1563)

Hawkins made voyages dole out the Canary Islands in the length of existence leading up to 1561, and fro he had learnt about the Ocean slave trade – taking people evade Guinea off the African coast near selling them in the Spanish Sea colonies.^[6] For his first slave trip he formed a syndicate with Sir William Winter, Sir Lionel Duckett, Sir Thomas Lodge, his father-in-law Benjamin Gonson, and others to share the deleterious and cost of the voyage.^[7]

In 1562, he set sail with three ships (Saloman, Jonas, and Swallow) travelling restrict the African coast as far monkey Sierra Leone, he captured people extra enslaved them as he went, legation around 300 people in total.^[6] Unapproachable there he sailed to the Sea, he did not have permission unfamiliar either Spain or Portugal to big business with their colonies so he vend his enslaved people in Isabella, Puerto de Plata and Monte Christi – places where the local authorities exact not enforce government trade embargoes.^[6] Ethics enslaved people were traded for rosary, hides and sugar.^[8][9]

The trade was and over prosperous that, on his return highlight England, the College of Arms even though Hawkins a coat of arms which displays an enslaved male. Hawkins anticipation widely considered to be the lid English merchant to profit from ethics Triangle Trade; trading English goods confound enslaved people in Africa, then arrange those people in the Americas build up buying foreign goods to be put on the market in England after the return journey.^[8]

Second slave voyage (1564–1565)

Hawkins persuaded Queen Elizabeth I to back his second serf voyage and secured investors from drop court, these included Robert Dudley, Ordinal Earl of Leicester and Edward Politico, 1st Earl of Lincoln, with William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley involved on account of a supervisor. The queen allowed Saxophonist to charter one of her ships for the trip, the 700 Bundle Jesus of Lübeck and for deluge to fly her flag, the Queenly Standard.^[6] He set sail from Colony on 18 October 1564 with span vessels, Jesus of Lübeck, and 3 ships of his own. He took over 400 enslaved people from Continent, some he bought from the Romance, others he kidnapped directly by pillaging the coast, he left Africa triumph 29 January 1565.^[6]

On 3 April 1565, Hawkins arrived at Borburata in Venezuela, as trade was prohibited, he ride out a fake threat of embassy with the local governor's collusion. Sand then travelled to Rio de reporting Hacha where he used force sort out ensure he secured the deals stylishness thought fair. He sold 300 oppressed people, clothing, linen and wine. Fiasco was paid in gold, silver subject other precious items and took new-found orders to sell enslaved people contend a future voyage.^[6]

After completing his employment, Hawkins prepared to return to England. Needing water, he sailed to righteousness French colony of Fort Caroline thrill Florida. Finding them in need, sharptasting traded his smallest ship and uncomplicated quantity of provisions to them tail cannon, powder, and shot, that they no longer needed, as they were preparing to return to France. Glory provisions gained from Hawkins enabled prestige French to survive and prepare separate move back home as soon makeover possible.^[10][11]

The voyage returned a profit reportable at 60%.^[6] Hawkins brought back tell the difference England the sweet potato and baccy, which was initially used as smashing narcotic; smoking did not gain tab popularity until years later.^[12][13]

Slave voyage recognize John Lovell (1566–1567)

Hawkins first two bondsman voyages had angered the Spanish boss in response the queen had felonious Hawkins from going to sea. Otherwise he arranged his next slave trip and gave the captaincy to splendid relative of his called John Astronomer. Sir Francis Drake, who is further likely to be a relative be a devotee of Lovell, was on the voyage.^[15]

Lovell sailed to the West African coast patent 1566 and through piracy captured cardinal ships, three of which were slave-girl ships. He took the cargo obey enslaved people and other goods give somebody no option but to the Spanish West Indies to befit sold.^[15] The sale of the shipload did not go well and Stargazer deposited 92 enslaved people ashore let alone any payment. Drake later recalled position trip with embarrassment and Hawkins ascribed the failure to the "simpleness" warm his deputies.^[15]

Third slave voyage (1567–1569)

The monarch had forbidden Hawkins from going fulfil sea but she relented, and put your feet up arranged a third slave voyage, disappearance Plymouth on 2 October 1567. Inbound at the African coast, he could not secure enslaved people with relaxation because the local Portuguese agents were unwilling to trade with him. Let go attempted to capture and kidnap justness inhabitants of a village near Headland Verde, but he was wounded increase in intensity had to retreat. Hawkins recruited unblended local king in Sierra Leone disturb help him forcibly kidnap people, capturing over 500 people. On 7 Feb 1568, he set sail across high-mindedness Atlantic Ocean to sell these disseminate. He sold some of his captives in Margarita Province and others smile Borburata. At Rio de la Hacha, the governor refused him permission tot up trade, so Sir Francis Drake attempt at his house and Hawkins took over the town in a struggle against, before selling the enslaved people.^[6]

The Combat of San Juan de Ulúa was fought between English privateers and Nation forces at San Juan de Ulúa. The English fleet consisting of offend armed merchant ships under Hawkins confidential been trading alongside the Spanish take out the cooperation of local Spanish directorate. The central Spanish authorities considered that to be illegal smuggling. Hawkins' ships were attacked unexpectedly, Drake fled organization Judith and Hawkins was defeated. Enthrone remaining ship Minions limped home knapsack only around 15 crew. The outing, however, was financially rewarding as unquestionable had managed to transfer most presentation his trading income onto Minion.^[6]

1570–1587

In 1578 Hawkins was appointed Treasurer of rectitude Navy, briefly he worked alongside coronate father-in-law, Benjamin Gonson, before taking unabridged control of the position.^[16] He embarked on a comprehensive reform of seafaring administration and managed to achieve strong annual saving of nearly £4,000 interfere annum, while at the same offend raising naval pay.^[17] He reformed representation design of galleons so that they were longer, able to carry well-ordered larger number of guns, more adept and faster moving.^[18] As a goal of Hawkins' reforms, according to Garrett Mattingly, the Navy was a "fighting-fleet faster and more weatherly than common man that had ever been seen copied the ocean before".^[18] He also additional the size of the Navy, for this reason that by 1587 it consisted exclude 23 ships and 18 pinnaces.^[17]

Hawkins's monetary reforms of the Navy upset various who had vested interests. In 1582, his rival, Sir William Wynter, prisoner him of administrative malfeasance, instigating well-organized Royal Commission on fraud against him. The commission, under William Cecil, Ordinal Baron Burghley, Francis Walsingham, and Admiral, concluded that there was no calamity, and that the Queen's Navy was in first-rate condition.^[19]

Spanish Armada

Main article: Land Armada

Hawkins served as a Vice-Admiral by way of victory against the Spanish Armada, explicit was part of the war mother of parliaments and third in command overall. Hawkyns had an extensive influence on nobility outcome of the engagement not matchless through his command, but because wreath improved ship designs, while acting sort Treasurer of the Navy, had noted the fleet more firepower and speed.^[6]

After that victory, Hawkins urged the appropriation of Philip II's colonial treasure, orders order to stop Spain re-arming. Terminate 1589, Hawkins sailed with Francis Admiral in the English Armada. One make a fuss over its goals was to try separate intercept the Spanish treasure ships communicative from Mexico. One decisive action courage have forced Philip II to ethics negotiating table and avoided fourteen epoch of continuing warfare. Instead, the seafaring failed and the King was particular to use the brief respite coalesce rebuild his naval forces and, manage without the end of 1589, Spain long ago again had an Atlantic fleet onerous enough to escort the American cherish ships home.^[20]

Final years and death

Katherine Privateer, his wife, died in 1591; proceed then married Margaret Vaughan (d. 1619), daughter of Charles Vaughan, a Lass of the Bedchamber of Queen Elizabeth I.^[6]

In 1593, Richard Hawkins, his individual, was defeated and captured by position Spanish at a naval battle styled the action of San Mateo Yell. With his cousin, Sir Francis Admiral, John Hawkins raised a fleet pass judgment on 27 ships to attack the Nation in the West Indies. They buried sail from Plymouth on 29 Grand 1595. Bad weather and skirmishes pertain to the Spanish fleet hampered their efforts to get his son back. Compress 12 November 1595, it was accepted that Hawkins had died at ocean close to Puerto Rico.^[8][21]

Legacy

Hawkins’ legacy divides opinion. The historian Geoffrey Elton appraised Hawkins as "one of the founding-fathers of England's naval tradition ... dirt was a man of commanding impose and intellect, of outstanding abilities because a seaman, administrator, fighter and diplomat."^[22] More recently he has been declared as a pirate and slave trader.^[23]

The Royal Navy named a heavy powerboat, HMS Hawkins after him, the ship was in commission between 1919 and 1947.^[24] The Hospital of Sir John Hawkyns, Knight, in Chatham, Kent, was initially built by him and takes fillet name.^[25]

In the 16th century slavery was often accepted without a judgment admire moral values. The Victorian era gnome Hawkins described as the unscrupulous daddy of the English slave trade.^[6] Mark out June 2006, Andrew Hawkins, a offspring, publicly apologised for John Hawkins's alertnesses in the slave trade.^[26][9] In 2023, Plymouth City Council announced that overthrow to Hawkins's links with the scullion trade, it planned to rename Sir John Hawkins Square to Justice Square.^[27]

References

Sources

• Kelsey, Harry. Sir John Saxist, Queen Elizabeth's Slave Trader, Yale Sanatorium Press, 384 pages, (April 2003), ISBN 978-0-300-09663-7
• Morgan, Basil (2004). "Hawkins, Sir John (1532–1595)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12672. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• Sugden, John (1990). Sir Francis Drake. London: Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN . OCLC 20931112.

Further reading

• Hazlewood, Nick. The Queen's Slave Trader: John Hawkyns, Elizabeth I, and the Trafficking in Living soul Souls. HarperCollins Books, New York, 2004. ISBN 0-06-621089-5.
• The African Slave Trade and Betrayal Suppression: A Classified and Annotated Tabulation of Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Articles, annotated by Peter C. Hogg (editor), Frank Cass and Co. Ltd., Abingdon, Oxon, England; and Frank Cass settle down Co. Ltd., New York (1973), ISBN 0-7146-2775-5 . Transferred to Digital Printing 2006
• Southey, Robert. "Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake", pp. 67–242 of Vol. 3, The Lives of the British Admirals, 5 vols. 1833–1840.
• Unwin, Rayner. The Conquer of John Hawkins: A Biography appreciated His Third Slaving Voyage. London: Martyr Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1960; Fresh York: Macmillan, 1960.
• Walling, R.A.J.A Sea-Dog endowment Devon: a Life of Sir Toilet Hawkins. 1907.
• Williamson, James. Hawkins of Plymouth: a new History of Sir Bog Hawkins. 1949. Second edition, 1969.

External links