John Davis (explorer)
English explorer who sought the Northwest Passage and discovered the Falkland Islands.
John Davis (c. 1550 – 29 December 1605) was an English explorer, navigator, and privateer who searched for the Northwest Passage and piloted Dutch and English voyages to the East Indies. He is credited with discovering the Falkland Islands in August 1592.
Davis was born around 1550 at Sandridge near Dartmouth, Devon, and grew up in the parish of Stoke Gabriel. Little is known about his early education, though his later skills suggest he was well taught. His childhood neighbours included Adrian Gilbert, his brother Humphrey Gilbert, and their half-brother Walter Raleigh—Humphrey became an explorer, Raleigh a courtier and explorer. Davis also befriended mathematician and royal adviser John Dee. On 29 September 1582, at about age 32, he married Faith Fulford, daughter of Sir John Fulford and Lady Dorothy Bourchier; they had four sons and a daughter.
In 1583, Davis proposed a Northwest Passage expedition to Queen Elizabeth’s secretary Francis Walsingham. With Walsingham’s backing, he sailed from Dartmouth in 1585 with two ships, following Martin Frobisher’s route along Greenland’s east coast, around Cape Farewell, and west toward present-day Baffin Island. He returned on 30 September 1585, having made his first recorded contact with the Inuit and crossed the southern part of the strait later named after him. In 1586 he returned with four ships: two were sent to Greenland’s eastern shore, and two pushed into the strait to 67°N before ice blocked them. An attempt to circumnavigate Greenland from the east failed. Davis’s initially friendly approach to the Inuit—bringing musicians and dancing—soured after they stole an anchor; Inuit also attacked his ships in Hamilton Inlet, Labrador. A third expedition in 1587 reached 72°12’N and Disko Island before winds forced it back. On his return, he charted Davis Inlet on the Labrador coast; his log became a textbook for later captains.
In 1588 he likely commanded the *Black Dog* against the Spanish Armada. In 1589 he joined the Earl of Cumberland on the Azores Voyage. In 1591 he accompanied Thomas Cavendish on his last voyage, seeking the Northwest Passage from the western side. After Cavendish’s expedition turned back, Davis continued alone to attempt the Strait of Magellan but was defeated by foul weather; he apparently discovered the Falkland Islands in August 1592 aboard the *Desire*. His crew killed hundreds of pengu
- born
- c. 1550, Sandridge near Dartmouth, Devon, England
- died
- 29 December 1605, off Bintan Island near present-day Singapore
- field
- Exploration, navigation, privateering
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Search for the Northwest Passage, discovery of the Falkland Islands, invention of the Davis quadrant
Lore & Background
John Davis was born around 1550 at Sandridge near Dartmouth in Devon. He grew up in the parish of Stoke Gabriel and spent his childhood at Sandridge Barton. Among his childhood neighbours were Adrian Gilbert, his brother Humphrey Gilbert, and their half-brother Walter Raleigh. Davis also became friends with the mathematician and royal adviser John Dee. On 29 September 1582, at about age 32, he married Faith Fulford, daughter of Sir John Fulford, the High Sheriff of Devon, and Lady Dorothy Bourchier. The couple had four sons and a daughter.
In 1583, Davis proposed an expedition in search of the Northwest Passage to the queen's secretary Francis Walsingham. With Walsingham's support, he sailed from Dartmouth in 1585 with two ships, following Martin Frobisher's earlier route along Greenland's east coast. He returned on 30 September 1585, having made his first recorded contact with the Inuit and crossed the southern part of the strait that later came to bear his name. He led two further Arctic expeditions in 1586 and 1587, reaching as far as 72°12'N. In 1591 he accompanied Thomas Cavendish on his last voyage, and after the rest of the expedition returned unsuccessful, Davis continued on his own account, apparently discovering the Falkland Islands in August 1592 aboard Desire.
From 1596 to 1597 Davis sailed with Sir Walter Raleigh to Cádiz and the Azores. From 1598 to 1600 he accompanied a Dutch expedition to the East Indies as pilot. From 1601 to 1603 he served as Pilot-Major on the first voyage of the English East India Company under Sir James Lancaster. On 5 December 1604 he sailed again for the East Indies as pilot to Sir Edward Michelborne. Davis died on 27 December 1605, killed by one of his captive 'Japanese' pirates whose disabled vessel he had just seized.
Reader's Guide
John Davis is significant for his persistent and methodical search for the Northwest Passage, which advanced European knowledge of Arctic geography and navigation. His detailed logs of his Arctic voyages remained a textbook model for later captains for centuries. He is also recognized for his valuable contribution to proto-ethnography of the Inuit, recording early encounters with them. His discovery of the Falkland Islands in 1592 added a new territory to European maps. Davis's invention of the backstaff and double quadrant, known as the Davis quadrant, remained popular among English seamen long after the introduction of Hadley's reflecting quadrant. His publications, including The Seaman's Secrets (1594) and The World's Hydrographical Description (1595), contributed to practical and theoretical navigation. His later voyages to the East Indies helped establish English and Dutch trade routes, though his career was marked by personal and professional controversies, including a failed pepper price prediction and a plot to entrap a Catholic priest.
Did You Know?
- John Davis discovered the Falkland Islands in August 1592 aboard the ship Desire.
- He invented the backstaff and double quadrant, later called the Davis quadrant, which remained popular among English seamen for many years.
- Davis was killed by one of his captive 'Japanese' pirates off Bintan Island near present-day Singapore on 29 December 1605.
- On his return from the 1592 voyage, Davis discovered his wife had taken up with a 'sleek paramour' who conspired with her to bring false charges against him.
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