Illustration of Martin Frobisher, John Hawkins and Francis Drake. Sir Martin Frobisher (c. 1535 - 22 November 1594) was an English seaman and privateer who made three voyages to the New World looking for the North-west Passage. Sir John Hawkins (1532 - 12 November 1595) was a pioneering English naval commander and administrator. He was also a privateer and an early promoter of English involvement in the Atlantic slave trade. Sir Francis Drake (c.1540 - 28 January 1596) was an English explorer, sea captain, privateer, slave trader, naval officer, and politician.