The Quiet Power Behind England’s Rise at Sea

The Quiet Power Behind England’s Rise at Sea

On this day in Tudor history, 7 October 1589, the bells of Deptford tolled for William Hawkins: merchant, sea captain, three-time mayor of Plymouth, and the steadier, quieter elder of the famous Hawkins brothers. Buried at St Nicholas’s, his monument is lost, but his impact isn’t.

In this episode, I trace how Hawkins turned Plymouth into a launchpad for Elizabethan sea power:
  • From Brazil voyages with his father to a Plymouth shipowner and civic powerhouse
  • Privateering in the Channel during the 1557–58 war and pushing London for reprisals after San Juan de Ulúa
  • Building Plymouth’s infrastructure (new water conduit, weighhouse, grain transport) and securing Hawkins’ Quay
  • Leading a bold 1582–83 venture via Cape Verde to the Caribbean (Margarita, Puerto Rico)
  • Backing, and benefiting from, ventures tied to the 1560s transatlantic slave trade
  • Helping marshal seven Plymouth ships against the Spanish Armada in 1588

Not a household name like Drake or John Hawkins, William was the engineer of capacity - the quay-master, quartermaster, and mayor who kept ships, money, and men moving when England needed them most.

Had you heard of this Hawkins before today? Tell me in the comments, and if you enjoy daily Tudor deep dives, please like, subscribe, and ring the bell. #OnThisDay #TudorHistory #ElizabethanEngland #WilliamHawkins #SpanishArmada

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(1003)

Was Henry VIII really catfished by Anne of Cleves?

Was Henry VIII really catfished by Anne of Cleves?

It's one of the most famous stories surrounding Henry VIII's fourth marriage. Hans Holbein the Younger was supposedly sent to Cleves to paint Anne's portrait, produced an image that made her look far ...

29 Jul 26min

Did Christina of Denmark REALLY Say "If I Had Two Heads..."?

Did Christina of Denmark REALLY Say "If I Had Two Heads..."?

Did Christina of Denmark really tell Henry VIII, "If I had two heads, one would be at His Majesty's disposal"?It's one of the most famous quotations associated with Henry VIII's search for a fourth wi...

23 Jul 10min

Why Couldn't Henry VIII "Do It" With Anne of Cleves?

Why Couldn't Henry VIII "Do It" With Anne of Cleves?

Did Henry VIII Have Erectile Dysfunction? The Anne of Cleves Bedroom MysteryDid Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves ever actually "do it"?Henry claimed that his marriage to Anne was never consummated becaus...

21 Jul 28min

Did Henry VIII Almost Take Anne of Cleves Back?

Did Henry VIII Almost Take Anne of Cleves Back?

Why did so many people believe Henry VIII would remarry Anne of Cleves after Catherine Howard's fall?While researching my forthcoming event, The Rise and Fall of Catherine Howard, I noticed something ...

15 Jul 8min

Should We Stop Diagnosing Henry VIII?

Should We Stop Diagnosing Henry VIII?

Was Henry VIII a narcissist? A psychopath? A sociopath?These labels are increasingly applied to England's most famous king, but after years of researching Henry VIII and reading contemporary sources, ...

5 Jul 14min

Henry VIII: Not Like Other Kings

Henry VIII: Not Like Other Kings

Why did Henry VIII marry so differently from other European monarchs? Most Renaissance kings married for diplomacy, alliances and dynastic advantage. Personal attraction might have mattered, but poli...

28 Jun 29min

Was Anne Boleyn Really the Love of Henry VIII's Life?

Was Anne Boleyn Really the Love of Henry VIII's Life?

People often call Anne Boleyn the love of Henry VIII's life, but was she really? In this video, I'm taking a closer look at one of the most romanticised relationships in Tudor history and asking whet...

22 Jun 16min

People Were Protesting Immigration in England 500 Years Ago

People Were Protesting Immigration in England 500 Years Ago

The history of immigration in England is far older than many people realise. Immigration in Tudor England, medieval England and even Roman Britain helped shape the nation we know today. People often ...

16 Jun 28min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
konspirasjonspodden
aftenpodden
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
alt-fortalt
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
grenselos
bokmerket-2
wolfgang-wee-uncut
fladseth
aftenpodden-usa
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
198-land-med-einar-trnquist
rss-herrepanelet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-optimisten-pessimisten-realisten
rss-siktet