Cavendish, Thomas (bap. 1560-1592): Thomas Cavendish (Candish) was an English explorer, courier, M.P. and privateer of the Elizabethan era. In his early years Cavendish attended, but did not graduate from, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He soon left for London where he began to make valuable connections at court and drive himself into the beginnings of a lifelong cycle of financial irresponsibility. By the early 1580s Cavendish had entered the service of Walter Raleigh, and was one of the gentlemen instructed by Thomas Harriot in navigational applications of mathematical theory in Raleigh’s household. After briefly holding a seat in Parliament in 1584, Cavendish was appointed high-marshal of the 1585 Expedition to Virginia under Richard Grenville. When a storm separated the fleet, Cavendish nevertheless managed to utilize his navigation skills to meet Grenville in Puerto Rico. During this voyage he befriended Ralph Lane, governor of the colony, who later praised Cavendish highly in his report. Returning to England in 1585, Cavendish followed in Drake’s footsteps and took part in a privateering and circumnavigation voyage, returning to England in 1588 with Spanish gold, valuable geographical intelligence, and long unheeded advice concerning the establishment of trade with the Philippines. He set out for second such voyage in 1591. Beset by delays, foul weather damaging his fleet, the ravages of disease, and discontent among the crew, this expedition was rather less successful and, unable to further take the strain, Cavendish made out his will and died at sea in 1592, either of disease or, by some accounts, a broken heart.
Cavendish, Thomas (bap. 1560-1592): Thomas Cavendish (Candish) was an English explorer, courier, M.P. and privateer of the Elizabethan era. In his early years Cavendish attended, but did not graduate from, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He soon left for London where he began to make valuable connections at court and drive himself into the beginnings of a lifelong cycle of financial irresponsibility. By the early 1580s Cavendish had entered the service of Walter Raleigh, and was one of the gentlemen instructed by Thomas Harriot in navigational applications of mathematical theory in Raleigh’s household. After briefly holding a seat in Parliament in 1584, Cavendish was appointed high-marshal of the 1585 Expedition to Virginia under Richard Grenville. When a storm separated the fleet, Cavendish nevertheless managed to utilize his navigation skills to meet Grenville in Puerto Rico. During this voyage he befriended Ralph Lane, governor of the colony, who later praised Cavendish highly in his report. Returning to England in 1585, Cavendish followed in Drake’s footsteps and took part in a privateering and circumnavigation voyage, returning to England in 1588 with Spanish gold, valuable geographical intelligence, and long unheeded advice concerning the establishment of trade with the Philippines. He set out for second such voyage in 1591. Beset by delays, foul weather damaging his fleet, the ravages of disease, and discontent among the crew, this expedition was rather less successful and, unable to further take the strain, Cavendish made out his will and died at sea in 1592, either of disease or, by some accounts, a broken heart.
Works Cited: Susan M. Maxwell, ‘Cavendish, Thomas (bap. 1560, d. 1592)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4942, accessed 26 Sept 2011]