Richard HakluytRichard Hakluyt was an English writer and Anglican priest born in 1552 in Hereford, United Kingdom, and died in 1616 in London. Educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, he became one of the most influential advocates for English explration and overseas expansion. Deeply inspired by accounts of discovery and travel, Hakluyt devoted his life to collecting, translating, and publishing detailed narratives of voyages and expeditions undertaken by English explorers. His works, including Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America and The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, played a crucial role in shaping England's maritime ambitions and promoting colonization in the New World. Through his meticulous documentation, he highlighted the commercial, political, and spiritual significance of exploration, presenting it as both a national duty and a divine mission. Hakluyt's writings not only preserved vital records of global navigation but also inspired generations of explorers and settlers. His legacy endures as a cornerstone in the literature of discovery, reflecting the intellectual and imperial aspirations of Elizabethan England. Read More Read Less