Notes

John Davis was a chief English navigator and explorer under the rule of Elizabeth I. Davis was born in the Parish of Stoke Gabriel in 1550 and spent his childhood in Sandridge. It is thought that he learned most of his sea skills as a child while playing with boats along the river Dart. He led several voyages to discover the Northwest Passage, and served as pilot and captain on both Dutch and English voyages to the East Indies. He discovered the Falkland Islands in August 1592. Davis married Mistress Faith Fulford and Dorithy Bourchier. He had five children: Gilbert, Elizabeth, Arthur, John, and Philip. Davis attempted to go to the passage of the Strait of Magellanbut because of bad weather, his crew was forced to kill hundreds of penguins for food but the meat went bad and only fourteen of his 76 men made it home alive. He also went with Sir James Lancaster on the first voyage of the English East India Company. Later he sailed for the same place but on this journey, he was killed off by one of his captives on December 29, 1605.