Yes he did, in 1579.

He landed near what is now San Francisco whilst being pursued by the Spanish.

To evade them he was trying to reach the fabled Northwest Passage, which early navigators imagined would connect the Pacific with the Atlantic to the north of Canada. When he landed in California the Indians warmly welcomed him and his crew. They thought the Englishmen were gods and offered them their entire country along the California seaboard.

According to reports of the voyage, Drake graciously accepted the offer and ordered a brass plate be nailed to a post on the shoreline. It said that the territory was a dominion of Queen Elizabeth and would henceforth be known as New Albion.

In 1936 Mr Beryle Shinn, a San Francisco shop assistant, found a dirty old brass plate whilst enjoying a picnic on the shore north of the Golden Gate bridge. He took it home thinking it might be useful for car repairs. He left it in his garage and forgot about it for 8 months.

In 1937 he came across it again and cleaned it with soap and water. Able to decipher the word 'Drake' he sent it to Dr Herbert Bolton of the University of California for further study.

Following analysis of the plate a hot debate ensued as some felt it was an elaborate hoax.

According to contemporary reports, Drake landed in California at a spot marked by high white cliffs. But there were no cliffs at the picnic spot where the plate was found. There were also a few technical issues with the plate, but Dr Bolton was able to establish the plate could have dated from the right time period. The plate was vindicated when a chauffeur called William Caldiera came forward. He explained he had originally discovered the plate 4 years previously, and kept it for a short while before throwing it away close to where Mr Shinn found it. He originally found the plate in Drake's Bay, traditionally thought to be Drake's landing place, and it was an area with tall white cliffs.

Britain's title deed to California now rests in the University of California. So far, the British have graciously refused to take up the option.