• Family - His father was Sir John Hawkins, his uncle was Sir Francis Drake
• Career - Explorer, Soldier and Privateer
• Famous for his voyages to South America
• His great ambition was to follow Sir Francis Drake and sail around the world

Facts & History about the life of Sir Richard Hawkins - Explorer, Soldier and Privateer
The following are additional facts about the life and history of Sir Richard Hawkins:

• 1562: Sir Richard Hawkins was born in Plymouth, the son of the Elizabethan explorer Sir John Hawkins
• He spent his early life in the company of his explorer father and other sea going Privateers such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh
• 1585: Richard Hawkins travelled to Brazil with his uncle Sir Francis Drake
• 26 June 1586 - Drake visited Sir Walter Raleigh's colony headed by Ralph Lane, finding disheartened colonists and hostile Indians - Richard Hawkins is also a member of this voyage
• He held command of the Swallow against the Spanish Armada in 1588
• 1588: Spanish Armada of 132 ships sails for England. England's navy consists of 34 ships and 163 armed merchant vessels. Richard Hawkins is given command of an English war ship
• 1588 Jul 29, The Spanish Armada was sighted off the coast of England
• 1588 Jul 30, The English exchanged fire with the Spanish Armada
• 1588 Aug 8, The English Navy destroys the Spanish Armada
• 1590 Sir Richard Hawkins serves with his father's expedition to the coast of Portugal
• 1593: Sir Richard Hawkins purchases the "Dainty," from his father and sails for the West Indies - the Spanish Main. He crosses the Atlantic Ocean and sails through the Strait of Magellan
• 1594: Sir Richard Hawkins is wounded and captured by the Spanish in Chile
• Sir ichard Hawkins is imprisoned in Peru for three years and then transferred to Spain
• 1602: Sir Richard Hawkins is released for a £3000 ransom
• Richard Hawkins was Knighted in 1603 by King James I
• Sir Richard Hawkins became an MP and was Lord Mayor of Plymouth
• 1603: Sir Richard Hawkins spent two years writing 'Observations on His Voyage into the South Seas, AD 1593'
• 1620: Sir Richard Hawkins, at the age of 58, led an expedition to the Mediterranean against the Barbary (North African) pirates
• 1622, 17 Apr Sir Richard Hawkins died in Slapton, England