Sir John Hawkins, a seaman of distinguished ability who flourished
during the reign of Elizabeth, was born at Plymouth about 1520, and his
early life was spent in trading voyages to the south of Europe and
African coast. With the assistance of several merchants he fitted out a
small fleet in 1562, and obtained by force and purchase a cargo of
negroes, which he carried to the Spanish West India Colonies and there
sold them; this we believe was the first adventure in the African slave
trade made by Englishmen.
He made many voyages of this kind, and was at last attacked by the
Spanish authorities in the Port of S. Juan de Ulloa, and saved only two
of his ships and returned to England in January, 1568, after suffering
much hardship. This was his last commercial enterprise.
Hawkins was appointed in 1573 treasurer of the navy, and in 1588 we find
him serving as Rear Admiral against the Spanish Armada, and for his
great spirit and bravery he was knighted by the Admiral Charles Lord
Howard of Effingham. He went to intercept the Plate fleet and harrass
the trade of Spain with Frobishers and others in 1590, but failed in the
first object and succeeded in the second. In 1595, he was sent with
Drake to command an expedition against the Spaniards in the West Indies;
but they failed to agree and soon after separated. Sir John Hawkins died
November 21, 1595, and his colleague, Drake, soon after. Hawkins founded
a hospital at Chatham for poor and sick seamen. He also sat in
Parliament for Plymouth.