SIR MARTIN FROBISHER
Sir Martin Frobisher was born around 1535, becoming an English mariner. As a young boy, Frobisher was often at sea, spending the majority of his youth working in the African trade. In his later years, Frobisher became friends with Sir Humphrey Gilbert who was responsible for getting him interested in the Northwest Passage.
Frobisher as a man was licensed by Queen Elizabeth I, as well as backed by numerous merchant adventurers to make a voyage in search of the Northwest Passage. His first voyage took place in 1576, the second voyage in 1577, and then his third voyage in 1578. Each of these voyages was to the Arctic, hoping to find this infamous passage.
On the first voyage in 1576, Frobisher sailed into what is now called Frobisher Bay to South Baffin Island. From the island, Frobisher brought back a black substance that many believed was precious gold. In addition, to prove that he had actually reached the storybook Cathay, he also brought back with him an Eskimo. On his next two voyages, Frobisher headed back to Baffin Island. There, he explored the bay, going deeper up the Hudson Strait.
However, this particular geographical discovery was not overly impressive and gold was not found. Therefore, for a short period, Frobisher was dismissed as an important explorer. However, in 1585, he soon gained position of commander of a ship associated with Sir Francis Drake’s expedition heading to the West Indies. For his faithful services to Drake along with assisting Sir John Hawkins in defeating the Spanish Armada, he was then knighted in 1588.
Sadly, Frobisher died from wounds received during an English campaign with the Spanish. However, because of his hard work, great leadership, and three voyages, his life and adventures were chronicled in 1578, called The Tree Voyages of Martin Frobisher.