Aug 18-20: Plymouth

The Historical Importance of Plymouth, England by Mick

Although Plymouth, England was not our favorite spot in the UK, it has some important significance in history – from the Mayflower to their famous gin. In this entry, I will cover some of the reasons why Plymouth is historically important. First, and most obviously, the Mayflower, the merchant ship that the Pilgrims sailed on, and founded America. The Mayflower and its pilgrims departed from Plymouth England in August 1620. The Mayflower and its sister ship, the Speedwell, set sail but the Speedwell started leaking immediately and was forced back to port. The Pilgrims, instead of waiting for the Speedwell, squeezed into the Mayflower and set sail in September. After two brutal months, they finally reached the east coast of America. One of the famous people associated with Plymouth, was Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596). He sailed out of Plymouth and across the Atlantic where he discovered California and claimed it for Queen Elizabeth I. After his stop, he continued on to circumnavigate the globe and get knighted by the queen. Another historical event that happened here was the Blitz in WWII. The Blitz was a series of bombing raids on multiple British cities carried out by Nazi’s Luftwaffe (Germany’s vast air force). In the 59 bombing attacks that happened from 1940-1944, a shocking 1,172 people were killed and 4,448 injured. Plymouth played a huge role in history and should be recognized for its significance. I hope you walk away knowing a little more about England and its history. Until next time, Mick

Sources used:

http://www.history.com/topics/mayflower

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Blitz

https://www.biography.com/people/francis-drake-9278809