Why did Sir Francis Drake take part in the Atlantic slave trade?

Sir Francis Drake participated in the Atlantic slave trade primarily as a commercial venture, often in association with his kinsman Sir John Hawkins, who was a pioneer of the English slave trade.1

During the 16th century, the transatlantic slave trade was driven by the economic demands of European colonial powers, particularly to address labor shortages in the West Indies and the Americas caused by the decline of Indigenous populations. Drake’s involvement was part of these broader commercial ambitions, which were often supported by the English crown; notably, Queen Elizabeth I invested in these slaving expeditions.2341

It is important to recognize that the enslavement and trafficking of human beings are profound violations of fundamental human rights and dignity. These historical actions, while motivated by the mercantilist pursuit of profit and colonial expansion, represent an indefensible chapter in history that caused immeasurable suffering to millions of people.523