Which explorer is recognised as the first Englishman to sail around the world, completing a circumnavigation of the globe?

Introduction / Context:
This question is from world history and exploration. It asks about the first Englishman who successfully sailed around the world, completing a circumnavigation of the globe. Circumnavigation was a major achievement of the Age of Exploration and is associated with famous names like Magellan and Drake. Examinations often test candidates knowledge of which explorer belonged to which country and who completed which notable voyage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question specifically asks for the first Englishman, not the first person overall.
• The journey described is a complete circumnavigation of the world.
• Options include Magellan, Sir Francis Drake, Juan Sebastian Elcano, and Henry Hudson.
• Nationality and voyage history are the key clues.

Concept / Approach:
The first expedition to complete a circumnavigation of the globe was the voyage led initially by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator sailing for Spain. However, Magellan himself died before the journey was completed, and Juan Sebastian Elcano, a Spanish navigator, finished the voyage. Neither of them was English. Sir Francis Drake, an English sea captain, later completed a circumnavigation and became the first Englishman to do so. Henry Hudson was another explorer, known mainly for exploring parts of the Arctic and North America, not for a full circumnavigation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Eliminate Magellan. Although he initiated the first circumnavigation voyage, he was Portuguese and died before the trip finished.Step 2: Eliminate Juan Sebastian Elcano. He completed the first full circumnavigation after Magellan death but was Spanish, not English.Step 3: Consider Sir Francis Drake. He was an English naval commander and privateer who undertook a famous global voyage that successfully circumnavigated the world.Step 4: Consider Henry Hudson. He is associated with voyages around the modern Hudson Bay and Hudson River areas, not with a complete circumnavigation.Step 5: Therefore, Sir Francis Drake is clearly the first Englishman to sail around the world.

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Magellan: Initiated but did not live to complete the first circumnavigation. He was not English.
• Juan Sebastian Elcano: Completed the first circumnavigation but was Spanish, not English.
• Henry Hudson: Known for exploring northern seas and the region around modern day New York and Canada, not for a globe circling voyage.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes see Magellan name and immediately associate him with the first circumnavigation, forgetting the specific requirement in the question about nationality. Others may not distinguish between leading the first circumnavigation and being the first from a particular country to complete it. Reading the full wording carefully avoids this trap.

Final Answer:
The first Englishman to sail around the world, completing a circumnavigation of the globe, was Sir Francis Drake.