Vice-Admiral Sir John Wynter or Winter (1555–1638) was an explorer and naval officer in the English

Navy Royal The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

. As a ship's captain in the Drake expedition of 1577-1580, he was the first European to cross the Strait of Magellan from west to east.

Career

John Wynter was Captain of the ''Elizabeth'' which accompanied

Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake ( – 28 January 1596) was an English explorer, sea captain, privateer, slave trader, naval officer, and politician. Drake is best known for his circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580 (t ...

(in the ''

Golden Hind ''Golden Hind'' was a galleon captained by Francis Drake in his circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580. She was originally known as ''Pelican,'' but Drake renamed her mid-voyage in 1578, in honour of his patron, Sir Christopher Hat ...

'') appointed as his Vice-Admiral on his voyage around the world in 1577. in July 1578, Drake sent Wynter ashore where he learned from indigenous people that they ate the astringent bark Winter's bark. The bark would likely aid the ''Golden Hind'' and the ''Elizabeth'' in avoiding

scurvy Scurvy is a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Early symptoms of deficiency include weakness, feeling tired and sore arms and legs. Without treatment, decreased red blood cells, gum disease, changes to hair, and bleeding ...

among their crews. Wynter was separated from Drake at the

Straits of Magellan The Strait of Magellan (), also called the Straits of Magellan, is a navigable sea route in southern Chile separating mainland South America to the north and Tierra del Fuego to the south. The strait is considered the most important natural pass ...

. Wynter was one of three leaders of the expedition, together with Drake and Thomas Doughty. Drake's status as a commoner caused friction with the two noblemen. Drake in July 1578 asserted full control of the expedition and had Doughty executed for mutiny. The ships passed through the Strait of Magellan, but a terrible storm caused ''Elizabeth'' to lose contact with the rest of the fleet on October 7. Laurence Bergreen in his book In Search of a Kingdom asserts that Wynter took advantage of circumstances to head back to England. Wynter "had determined that the two of them could not exist as cocaptains, not after what happened to Doughty." His decision persisted "full sore against the mariners' minds." Bergreen's description conflicts with that of Stephen Coote. According to Coote, Wynter hoped to regroup with the fleet. He intended to sail on to the East Indies and rendezvous with Drake there, but fearing an all out mutiny he reluctantly headed back to England. ''"The Vanguard's lieutenant, John Wynter, who also commanded the Elizabeth with Drake in 1578, and returned through the straits of Magellan, was Wynter's nephew, the son of Wynter's brother George, who in 1571 bought the manor of Dyrham in Gloucestershire. Kingsley, in 'Westward Ho !' has confused the uncle and nephew, and speaks of the man who commanded the fleet at Smerwick as the same that turned back through the straits of Magellan (cf. Cal. State Papers, Simancas, iii. 340-1)."'' Wynter returned to Plymouth in June 1580.

Family

The son of Sir George Wynter, of Lydney (1527–1581) and Anne Wynter, née Brayne (1537–1581). His uncle was the Admiral Sir

William Wynter Admiral Sir William Wynter (c. 1521 – 20 February 1589) was an admiral and principal officer of the Council of the Marine under Queen Elizabeth I of England and served the crown during the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604). Personal Wynter wa ...

. His grandparents were Captain

John Wynter Vice-Admiral Sir John Wynter or Winter (1555–1638) was an explorer and naval officer in the English Navy Royal. As a ship's captain in the Drake expedition of 1577-1580, he was the first European to cross the Strait of Magellan from west to ...

Treasurer of the Navy The Treasurer of the Navy, originally called Treasurer of Marine Causes or Paymaster of the Navy, was a civilian officer of the Royal Navy, one of the principal commissioners of the Navy Board responsible for naval finance from 1524 to 1832. T ...

or Treasurer of Marine Causes, and Alice Tyrrell or Tirry (1500–1561).

References

English admirals 16th-century Royal Navy personnel 1555 births 1628 deaths {{England-bio-stub