The Golden Hind

The Golden Hind was the famous ship used by English explorer Sir Francis Drake in the late 16th century. It is best known for completing the first English circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580, demonstrating England's maritime capabilities. The ship, originally named the Pelican, was renamed the Golden Hind in honor of Drake's patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose family crest featured a golden hind (a female deer). As a symbol of exploration and naval achievement, the Golden Hind represents England’s age of exploration, resourcefulness, and maritime expansion during the Elizabethan era.