Thomas Cavendish - First Voyage: A Successful Westbound Circumnavigation

First Voyage: A Successful Westbound Circumnavigation

By July 1586 Spain and England were in a war which would later culminate with the Spanish Armada and its threatened invasion of England in 1588. Thomas Cavendish determined to follow Sir Francis Drake by raiding the Spanish ports and ships in the Pacific and return by circumnavigating the globe. After getting permission for his proposed raids Cavendish built a larger 120 ton sailing ship, with 18 cannons, named the Desire. He was joined by the 60 ton, 10 cannon, ship Content, and the 40 ton ship Hugh Gallant.