Hawkins

• Born 1532

  Died 1595
• Key figure in Elizabeth’s court, even working as a spy joining the ridolfi plot against the queen and passing information to the authorities
• Responsible for the buildig up of the Royal Navy and was a respected military leader
• Played a major role as a commander against the Spanish armada
• Successful pirate, raiding Spanish ports and ships
• From 1562 he became involved with the African Slave Trade, first seizing slaves from the Portuguese and the. Taking them himself
• Believed to have introduced tobacco to England