* To plunder Spanish ships and settlements in the New World. Drake was a privateer, commissioned by the English government to attack Spanish ships and settlements in the Americas. He was especially successful in this endeavor, capturing numerous Spanish ships and raiding several Spanish settlements, including Santo Domingo and Cartagena.
* To find a northwest passage to Asia. Drake believed that there was a shortcut to Asia through the Arctic Ocean. He attempted to find this passage on two occasions, but was unsuccessful both times.
* To circumnavigate the world. Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world. He set out from Plymouth, England, in 1577, and returned three years later, having sailed around the entire globe.