Francis Drake lands in California
- When
- 1579
- Where
- Drakes Bay, Northern California; New Albion / Drakes Bay
- Episodes
- 2
On 17 June 1579, Francis Drake landed at Drakes Bay in Northern California. He claimed the territory for Queen Elizabeth I, naming it Nova Albion. Drake departed on 23 July 1579, leaving no colony. This event established an early English claim on the Pacific coast, distinct from his broader circumnavigation.
Episodes
- Landing and Claim of Nova Albion
Drake landed in Northern California on 17 June 1579, claiming the land for Elizabeth I and naming it Nova Albion.
- Departure from New Albion
Drake and his crew departed New Albion on 23 July 1579, leaving no colony behind.
Background and detail
The Landing and Claim. Drake arrived at Drakes Bay in Northern California on 17 June 1579. While ashore, he claimed the area for Queen Elizabeth I, naming it Nova Albion due to the white cliffs resembling the English coast. He asserted sovereignty for Elizabeth and her successors.
People involved
- Francis Drake · English explorer and privateer
- Elizabeth I · Queen of England
Sources
- New Albion Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-02
- Francis Drake Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-18
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.