Claim of Nova Albion

Date: June 17, 1579 • Location: Inverness, United States

Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England.

Sir Francis Drake was an English explorer and privateer known for making the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition between 1577 and 1580. He is also known for participating in the early English slaving voyages of his cousin, John Hawkins, and John Lovell. Having started as a simple seaman, in 1588 he was part of the fight against the Spanish Armada as a vice admiral.