Francis Drake - Marriage and Family

Marriage and Family

Francis Drake married Mary Newman in 1569. She died 12 years later, in 1581. In 1585, Drake married Elizabeth Sydenham—born circa 1562, the only child of Sir George Sydenham, of Combe Sydenham, who was the High Sheriff of Somerset. After Drake's death, the widow Elizabeth eventually married Sir William Courtenay of Powderham. As Sir Francis Drake had no children, his estate and titles passed on to his nephew (also named Francis).

The people of quality dislike him for having risen so high from such a lowely family; the rest say he is the main cause of wars.

—Gonzalo González del Castillo in a letter to King Philip II in 1592.

Read more about this topic:  Francis Drake

Famous quotes containing the words marriage and, marriage and/or family:

    I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.
    Gloria Steinem (b. 1934)

    The economic dependence of woman and her apparently indestructible illusion that marriage will release her from loneliness and work and worry are potent factors in immunizing her from common sense in dealing with men at work.
    Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)

    The family circle has widened. The worldpool of information fathered by the electric media—movies, Telstar, flight—far surpasses any possible influence mom and dad can now bring to bear. Character no longer is shaped by only two earnest, fumbling experts. Now all the world’s a sage.
    Marshall McLuhan (1911–1980)