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
May 10 1775 – Second Continental Congress convenes; Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (American Revolutionary War) https://amzn.to/3eyPgGt
May 10 1779 – Chesapeake raid begins (American Revolutionary War)
May 10 1796 – Battle of Lodi (French Revolutionary Wars); Battle at Derbent (Russo-Persian Wars) https://amzn.to/3y0ohLK
May 10 1799 – Assault on Acre repulsed (French Revolutionary Wars)
May 10 1801 – Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war against the U.S. (First Barbary War) https://amzn.to/33xtZXa
May 10 1838 – John Wilkes Booth born https://amzn.to/3uAXSlu
May 10 1857 – Indian sepoys revolt against the British https://amzn.to/2SGqlIw
May 10 1862 – Battle of Plum Run Bend, TN (also Plum Point) (US Civil War) (Naval) https://amzn.to/3exiAgo
May 10 1863 – Stonewall Jackson dies https://amzn.to/3hg1qpi
May 10 1864 – Battle of Cove Mountain; Battle of Chester Station (US Civil War)
May 10 1865 – Confederate President Davis captured (US Civil War) https://amzn.to/2R5RKTC
May 10 1869 – Naval Battle of Hakodate ends (Boshin War) (Naval) https://amzn.to/33sifp4
May 10 1917 – Tenth Battle of the Isonzo begins (WWI) https://amzn.to/3hk7sVZ
May 10 1940 – Battle of France begins; Battle of Rotterdam begins; Battle for the Hague; Battle of Maastricht (WWII) https://amzn.to/3tAplST
May 10 1941 – Luftwaffe carries out devastating bombing mission on London including destruction of the House of Commons (WWII) https://amzn.to/3xYbQjt
May 10 1942 – Philippines surrendered (WWII)
May 10 1945 – Sark liberated from Germany (WWII) https://amzn.to/3fdbr4e
May 10 1951 – Strike on Sinuiju (Korean War) (Air) https://amzn.to/2SA0jXb
May 10 1960 – Nuclear submarine USS Triton completes first underwater circumnavigation of the globe https://amzn.to/3hf87rL
May 10 1968 – Battle of Kham Duc begins (Vietnam War) https://amzn.to/3o1F4cH
May 10 1969 – Battle of Hamburger Hill begins; Operation Apache Snow begins (Vietnam War) https://amzn.to/3o2LnN3
May 10 1970 – Actions occurred which resulted in the award of the Medal of Honor to Leslie H. Sabo
May 10 2002 – Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem (Second Intafada)
May 10 2008 – Attack on Omdurman and Khartoum begins (Darfur War) https://amzn.to/33vZEIG
