Exploration

Sir Martin Frobisher

robisher was born in Altofts, Yorkshirel, in Circa in 1535. After his father died he spent some years in London in his youth, and in 1544 was apprenticed as a cabin boy. By 1565 he was a captain. On 7th June 1576 he sailed to the New World, leading a mission to try to locate the North West Passage. His fleet consisted of the Gabriel, the Michael and a small pinnace. As time went by, all vessels but the Gabriel were lost. In July they sighted what is today known as Frobisher Bay. This bay on Baffin Island was thought to be the NorthWest Passage entrance.

Returning to England, he brought with him "black earth" which he believed would contain gold, and in 1577 was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth the First to return to Canada to investigate this "black earth". On this, as well as a later expedition, Frobisher was not able to discovery fruitful ore, but common pyrite. He was also unable to colonize the land.

In 1585 he traveled to the West Indies in a raiding expedition as Vice Admiral of the Primrose. This mission against the Spanish colonies was led by Sir Francis Drake.