Sir John Hawkins
Hawkins , Sir John (1532–1595), an English navigator. Like his cousin, Sir Francis Drake, he was one of the “sea dogs” of the Elizabethan age. Hawkins was the first Englishman to engage in the slave trade and during 1562–67 made three voyages to Africa. From there he carried slaves to the Spanish colonies in the New World. Spain prohibited foreigners from trading in its colonies, and on his third voyage, Hawkins was ambushed by Spanish ships off Mexico, and barely escaped.
Hawkins was elected to the House of Commons in 1572 and soon after became treasurer of the navy. He introduced many improvements in ship construction and strengthened the fighting ability of the English fleet. In 1588 Hawkins was knighted, after serving as rear admiral against the Spanish Armada. Hawkins died off the coast of Puerto Rico while on an expedition against Spain.