SIR JOHN HAWKINS.
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.