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English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at what becomes known as Drakes Bay, for ship repairs;

English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at what becomes known as Drakes Bay, for ship repairs; claims area on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, and names it "Nova Albion" [1] [2]

The English explorer Francis Drake circumnavigated the Earth between 13 December 1577 and 26 September 1580. The expedition was authorised by Queen Elizabeth I and consisted of five ships. Termed a 'voyage of discovery', it was in effect an ambitious covert raiding voyage and the start of England's challenge to the global domination of Spain and Portugal.

Drake set off on 15 December 1577 after a delay of nearly six months. After capturing Spanish vessels and Portuguese caravels while crossing the Atlantic he became the first Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan. After reaching the Pacific Ocean in October 1578, he sailed up the west coast of South America. Due to losses by storms and disease, only two ships remained, one of which was the Golden Hind.

Historical Significance

The English explorer Francis Drake circumnavigated the Earth between 13 December 1577 and 26 September 1580.

Key People

Francis Drake

sailor and privateer

English sailor and privateer

Events Before

  1. Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pa

    Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pave the streets of London.

  2. Battle of Gembloux (Gembloers); Spanish forces win decisive victor over coalition rebel forces

    Battle of Gembloux (Gembloers); Spanish forces win decisive victor over coalition rebel forces

  3. England grants Sir Humphrey Gilbert a patent to explore and colonize North America

    England grants Sir Humphrey Gilbert a patent to explore and colonize North America

  4. English explorer Martin Frobisher sights Baffin Island

    Sir Martin Frobisher (1535/1539 – 22 November 1594) was an English sea captain and privateer who made three voyages to the New World looking for the North-west Passage.

  5. Battle of Rijmenam: Spanish Habsburg forces defeated by Dutch troops (Eighty Years' War)

    The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government.

Events After

  1. Francis Drake completes his circumnavigation of the world, sailing into Plymouth, England aboard the Golden Hind

    Golden Hind was a galleon captained by Francis Drake in his circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580.

  2. Prince William I of Orange welcomed in Amsterdam

    William the Silent or William the Taciturn (Dutch: Willem de Zwijger; 24 April 1533 – 10 July 1584), more commonly known in the Netherlands as William of Orange (Dutch: Willem van Oranje), was the...

  3. Drenthe joins the Union of Utrecht

    The Union of Utrecht (Dutch: Unie van Utrecht) was an alliance based on an agreement concluded on 23 January 1579 between a number of Dutch provinces and cities, to reach a joint commitment against...

  4. Battle at Hardenberg: Spanish troops beat rebels

    Battle at Hardenberg: Spanish troops beat rebels

  5. States of Utrecht forbid Catholic worship

    States of Utrecht forbid Catholic worship

More from the 1570s

Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible begins his march to Novgorod

The massacre of Novgorod was an attack launched by Ivan the Terrible's oprichniki on the city of Novgorod, Russia, in 1570.

The Geuzen set fire to the city of Woudrichem

Woudrichem is a city and former municipality in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands.

Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France) abjures Catholicism at Tours

Henry IV (French: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry (le Bon Roi Henri) or Henry the Great (Henri le Grand), was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from...

Henry III of France marries Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont.

Henry III of France marries Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on June 17, 1579?
The English explorer Francis Drake circumnavigated the Earth between 13 December 1577 and 26 September 1580. The expedition was authorised by Queen Elizabeth I and consisted of five ships. Termed a 'voyage of discovery', it was in effect an ambitious covert raiding voyage and the start of England's challenge to the global domination of Spain and Portugal.
Why is English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at what beco... significant?
The English explorer Francis Drake circumnavigated the Earth between 13 December 1577 and 26 September 1580.
Who was involved in English navigator Francis Drake lands on the coast of California at what beco...?
Key figures include Francis Drake (sailor and privateer).

Explore More

June 17 in HistoryYear 1579