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Felixstowe Nub News delves into the life of Trimley born navigator Sir Thomas Cavendish.

Sir Thomas Cavendish was born in Trimley St. Martin to William Cavendish.

Upon his father's death at age 12, he inherited a sizeable fortune which left him living a life of luxury for 8 years after he left school at 17.

He is a former Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury, Dorset, serving in 1584.

In 1585, he sailed with Sir Richard Grenville to aid in colonising Roanoke, famous for its supposed "Lost Colony" in which the entire population disappeared. His investments lost him a lot of money yet he gained invaluable navigating experience.

During his sailing period, Spain and England were caught up in a conflict that would eventually turn into the Spanish Armada threatening to invade England in 1588.

Cavendish, heavily inspired and influenced by Sir Francis Drake, aimed to raid Spanish ports and ships in the Pacific Ocean and circumnavigate around the world. He built a 120-ton ship named the Desire.

Cavendish alongside Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins

21 July 1586 saw Cavendish set sail from Plymouth with his three ships and 123 men with his goals in mind.

During his first voyage, he sailed to far away places such as Ecuador, California and the Philippines.

His first voyage was a huge success financially. At the age of 27, he had completed his circumnavigation of the globe in 2 years and 49 days. This is a whole 9 months faster than Drake.

Upon his return, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.

His second voyage, however, was much less of a success, culminating in the death of Cavendish himself.

He set sail in 1591, with fellow navigator John Davis. Getting as far as Brazil, he lost most of his crew in a battle.

Afterwards, Cavendish set sail across the Atlantic to Saint Helena with the rest of his crew but he died at age 31 of unknown causes.

His final letter contained his hatred for John Davis as he described him as a "villain" and blaming him for the "decay of the whole action."

Davis carried on with the crew and later discovered the Falkland Islands before returning back to England.