Raymond Aker (March 10, 1920 – January 4, 2003) was a U.S. historian who was noted as an authority on the voyages of Francis Drake in the late 16th century.
It was the work of Aker that helped ensure that Drake received credit for the discovery of Cape Horn, at the southern tip of South America.
After World War II, he worked for 29 years at Westinghouse on projects that include the Polaris missile and ship propeller design.
In 1997 the American National Maritime Historical Society accepted Aker's argument that it Drake who first discovered Cape Horn.
Aker also became convinced that the partial remains of Drake's ship the Golden Hinde, are buried at the old Deptford Navy Yard along the Thames in east London.