Frobisher, Sir Martin

Frobisher, Sir Martin (about 1535-94), sailor, explorer, b. Altofts, near Wakefield, Yorkshire, England.

Martin Frobisher first went to sea as a boy. In 1576 he sailed with two small ships in search of the North-West Passage to China and rediscovered Greenland and Labrador.

He brought back rock thought to contain gold and made two further voyages in search of more. But the gold turned out to be iron pyrites or 'fool's gold'.

In 1585 Frobisher sailed with Sir Francis Drake to the West Indies and in 1588 he commanded the Triumph, the largest ship in the world, in the battle against the Spanish Armada.

Afterwards he was knighted.

He was mortally wounded fighting against the Spaniards at Brest, France.

See James McDermott Martin Frobisher