> AFAIK Spanish arrived in California around 16th Century,
Arrived in? Sure, mostly sailing around the coast and transitory land expeditions. So did the British in North America, on both coasts.
But as for establishing any kind of durable colonies (e.g., “California” as more than a name on a map), that came later, and well after British colonies like Virginia were established, especially in the case of Alta California.
The idea that California was some kind of established European colony earlier than British colonization of North America is what I was taking issue with.
Arrived in? Sure, mostly sailing around the coast and transitory land expeditions. So did the British in North America, on both coasts.
But as for establishing any kind of durable colonies (e.g., “California” as more than a name on a map), that came later, and well after British colonies like Virginia were established, especially in the case of Alta California.
The idea that California was some kind of established European colony earlier than British colonization of North America is what I was taking issue with.