Thomas Doughty (explorer)
English explorer executed by Francis Drake / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Thomas Doughty (1545 – 2 July 1578) was an English nobleman, soldier, scholar and personal secretary of Christopher Hatton. His association with Francis Drake, on a 1577 voyage to raid Spanish treasure fleets, ended in a shipboard trial for treason and witchcraft, and Doughty's execution.
Thomas Doughty | |
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Born | 1545 Plymouth, England |
Died | 2 July 1578 (aged 32–33) Puerto San Julián, Argentina |
Nationality | English |
Occupation(s) | Soldier personal secretary |
Years active | 1577–78 |
Known for | Explorer alongside Francis Drake |
Although some scholars doubt the validity of the charges of treason, and question Drake's authority to try and execute Doughty, the incident set an important precedent: according to a history of the English Navy, titled To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World by Arthur L. Herman, Doughty's execution established the idea that a ship's captain was its absolute ruler, regardless of the rank or social class of its passengers.