Page 2nd Cover: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1973)

He was England's claim to California.

If Sir Francis Drake had only stayed in California instead of taking off for other parts, the Golden State would be called

New Albion!' Los Angeles might be New London, and San

Francisco, Devonshire.

But Drake, the first Englishman to sail around the world, had other ideas when in 1577, he set out from Plymouth with five ships and 164 men on his most famous voyage.

His ship was the "Golden Hind" and his purpose was to annex territories to promote English trade in the Pacific Ocean.

Drake sailed through the Strait of Magellan, discovered

Cape Horn, sailed up the west coast of South America, past

Mexico to California.

He landed there and claimed the land, which he called 'New Albion!' for England. Then, he took oft sailed west across the Pacific, rounded the Cape of Good'Hope and reached England on November 3. 1580.

Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. and timber from his ship, the "Golden Hind!' was made into a chair that is kept at Oxford University.

Was he really in California in 1579? He had claimed he left a brass plaque and, in 1933. a plate of brass answering his description was found, thrown away, and found again on

Marin Peninsula in 1936.

After many tests it was declared authentic and it is now at the University of California.

But it was the Spanish who colonized and. instead of leav- ing plaques, left men.

So. today, California everywhere reflects the cultural in- fluence of its early Spanish settlers just as the U.S. East Coast reflects the pioneering colonists from England.

This advertisement, prepared by Gulf Oil. a leading supplier of quality marine fuels and lubricants, is one of a series paying tribute to the great explorers of the sea. ft is published in the interest of the shipping industry and those associated with it.

GULF OIL TRADING COMPANY

NEW YORK. N.Y.U.S.A