Laurence Bergreen is a bestselling author and has written numerous books about past and present day exploration. He recently released a book on Francis Drake, Elizabeth I and English maritime development [power]. We spoke about the book, Francis Drake, naval practices and warfare of the period, and his other writing. In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire (Custom House, 2021)
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, academic, videos, Custom House, age of sail, Naval Warfare, Britain,
May 12 1082 – Battle of Mailberg (Austria)
May 12 1479 – Condottiero Pompeo Colonna born
May 12 1496 – Swedish king Gustav I of Sweden born
May 12 1510 – Prince of Anhua rebellion begins (China)
May 12 1649 – Battle of Focchies (Cretan War Naval) https://amzn.to/3xZZyqR
May 12 1670 – Elector of Saxony Augustus II the Strong born https://amzn.to/2QcG9lj
May 12 1767 – Spanish Prince Manuel Godoy born https://amzn.to/2QbnPJh
May 12 1780 – Siege of Charleston ends (American Revolutionary War) https://amzn.to/3eEhWxG
May 12 1781 – Battle of Fort Motte ends (American Revolutionary War)
May 12 1797 – Nore Mutiny (Britain) https://amzn.to/2QapIpC
May 12 1809 – Battle of Porto (Peninsular War)
May 12 1820 – Florence Nightingale born https://amzn.to/3y4DmvC
May 10 1849 – Ludwigshafen taken (Revolutions of 1848) https://amzn.to/3hl8ktF
May 12 1863 – Battle of Raymond (US Civil War)
May 12 1864 – Battle of Proctor’s Creek begins (US Civil War)
May 12 1865 – Battle of Palmito Ranch, TX (US Civil War) https://amzn.to/3eDS0Cf
May 12 1881 – Treaty of Bardo signed (Tunisia) https://amzn.to/3tAV72c
May 12 1885 – Battle of Batoche ends (North-West Rebellion)
May 12 1894 – Italian general Clemente Primieri born
May 12 1898 – Bombardment of San Juan (Spanish-American War) (Naval)
May 12 1900 – US Navy officer Joseph Rochefort born https://amzn.to/3tGiyqQ
May 12 1918 – American spy for the Soviets Julius Rosenberg born https://amzn.to/3o92bCd
May 12 1940 – Battle of Sedan begins https://amzn.to/2Qaqgf8 ; Battle of the Afsluitdijk begins (WWII)
May 12 1941 – Operation Tiger ends (WWII) (Naval)
May 12 1942 – Second Battle of Kharkov begins (WWII) https://amzn.to/3y3KiJr
May 12 1943 – U-507 sinks the SS Virginia at the mouth of the Mississippi River (WWII Naval) https://amzn.to/3uJXroV ; Battle of West Hubei begins (Second Sino-Japanese War)
May 12 1944 – Allies take Monte Faito (WWII)
May 12 1948 – Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Campaign begins (Chinese Civil War)
May 12 1949 – Berlin Blockade ends (Cold War) https://amzn.to/2SCaria ; Shanghai Campaign begins (Chinese Civil War)
May 12 1951 – US tests the H-bomb on Eniwetok Atoll https://amzn.to/2RKQt4C
May 12 1968 – Battle of Kham Duc ends; Battle of Coral-Balmoral begins (Vietnam War) https://amzn.to/3bm31Gr
May 12 1969 – Attack on Landing Zone Snoopy (Vietnam War)
May 12 1975 – SS Mayaguez taken (Vietnam War) https://amzn.to/3uGNSqZ
May 12 1982 – Liberation of Khorramshahr ends (Iran-Iraq War) 2004 – Operation Rainbow begins (Second Intifada)
May 12 2002- Raid at Deh Rawod (War in Afghanistan)
May 12 2003 – Riyadh compound bombings (Saudi Arabia)
May 12 2008 – Attack on Omdurman and Khartoum ends (Darfur War) https://amzn.to/2ROBcQg
Laurence Bergreen is a bestselling author and has written numerous books about past and present day exploration. He recently released a book on Francis Drake, Elizabeth I and English maritime development [power]. We spoke about the book, Francis Drake, naval practices and warfare of the period, and his other writing. In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire (Custom House, 2021)
0:59 – Laurence talks about why he wanted to write a book on Francis Drake and Elizabeth I.
3:20 – Laurence talks about the date range he covers.
4:23 – Laurence talks about Francis Drake.
5:52 – Laurence explains how Spain had a better Navy than England at the time.
6:59 – Laurence talks about how Francis Drake gained the skills and resources to circumnavigate the globe.
12:32 – Laurence talks about English naval resources.
13:36 – Laurence talks about the time Francis Drake became a captain.
14:22 – Laurence talks about the English crews.
15:49 – Laurence talks about the book focusing on Elizabeth and Drake.
23:23 – Laurence talks about English timber and ship resources.
25:37 – Laurence talks about English and Spanish naval gunnery.
26:17 – Laurence talks about Drake’s raids.
29:15 – Laurence talks about European enemies while Drake circumnavigated the globe.
33:45 – Laurence talks about navigation tools.
37:37 – Laurence talked about spots the Drake stopped at.
39:16 – Laurence talks about the ships Drake took on the trip.
40:41 – Laurence talks about the weaponry Drake took on his circumnavigation.
45:13 – Laurence talks about Drake’s relationship with the head of the English Navy.
46:20 – Laurence talks about how he did his research.
51:58 – Laurence talks about scurvy and the food the sailors ate.
56:19 – Laurence wondered why Drake didn’t have children.
59:59 – Laurence talks about Shakespeare’s character Prospero.
1:02:41 – Laurence talks about the tragedies of Magellan’s voyage as opposed to Drake’s.
1:03:24 – Laurence talks about his love of travel and research.
1:09:11 – Laurence can be found at LaurenceBergreen.com
