Francis Chichester was born in Shirwell, Devon, on 17 September 1901. He became known first as an aviator and later as one of Britain’s best-known solo sailors.

Chichester emigrated to New Zealand as a young man and built a business before returning to Britain. He learnt to fly and made long-distance solo flights, including pioneering journeys across the Tasman Sea and through the Pacific.

He later turned to sailing. In 1960, Chichester won the first Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race, sailing Gipsy Moth III from Plymouth to New York.

His best-known voyage began on 27 August 1966, when he left Plymouth aboard Gipsy Moth IV. He intended to sail around the world alone by the clipper route, stopping only in Sydney. After reaching Australia, he continued around Cape Horn and returned to Plymouth on 28 May 1967.

The voyage took 226 days and made Chichester a national figure. He was knighted in 1967, with Queen Elizabeth II using a sword that had belonged to Sir Francis Drake during the ceremony.