Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake was an English sea captain. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588.

In 1587, Drake launched an attack on the Spanish Navy in the port of Cadiz, resulting in the Armada being delayed for a year. (AUDIO: The Flames of Cadiz)

The Doctor claimed that he was playing nine pins with Drake when he was called away to fight the Spanish Armada. The Doctor let Drake win so he could get away to join the fight. (TV: Four to Doomsday, PROSE: Birthright) Drake was among the dinner guests abducted by Momus. The Tenth Doctor identified him for Noël Coward but Coward didn't really believe him. (WC: The Lonely Computer)

As a boy, Drake was the hero of Ian Chesterton, who saw a film in which he was played by Errol Flynn. (AUDIO: The Flames of Cadiz)

Behind the scenes

 * In the original script for Tooth and Claw, Queen Victoria refers to Sir Robert MacLeish as her Francis Drake, rather than Walter Raleigh. (DCOM: Tooth and Claw)