A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Drake, Thomas George
DRAKE. (Commander, 1846. f-p., 15; h-p., 3.)
Thomas George Drake, born 7 April, 1816, is second son of Colonel Thos. Drake, of Amersham, co. Bucks, late Deputy Quarter-Master General in the Mediterranean, by Elizabeth Sarah, eldest daughter of John Fane, Esq., LL.D,, of Wormsley, co. Oxford, many years M.P. for that shire. He is nephew of Rear-Admiral Fras. Wm. Fane, who died 28 March, 1844; and is maternally descended from the Earls of Westmoreland and Macclesfield.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College in the summer of 1829; and embarked, 24 June, 1831, on board the Alfred 50, Capt. Robt. Maunsell; in which ship, and the Volage 28, Capt. Geo. Bohun Martin, he served for several years on the Mediterranean station. Having passed his examination in Aug. 1835, he next, in March, 1836, joined the Cornwallis 74, Capt. Robt. Worgan Geo. Festing; but, removing soon to the Imogene, Capt. Henry Wm. Bruce, sailed for South America. In consequence of a severe injury received on that station, he returned to England in July, 1837, and on his recovery, in the following Oct., was appointed Senior Mate of the Hyacinth 18, Capt. Wm. Warren, fitting for the East Indies. In Dec. 1838, several months previously to which he had assumed the duties of Lieutenant, Mr. Drake was sent in command of the Hyacinth’s pinnace and cutter, and of three gun-boats belonging to the Indian navy, to blockade the port of Quedah, where he continued for four months, by the end of which period, owing to continual exposure in an open boat, his health had become much impaired. Being then ordered to China, we find him bearing an active part in all the hostilities of which that country was shortly made the seat. He assisted, among the other operations of the war, in a very gallant attack made by the Volage, Hyacinth, and other vessels, upon the Chinese position near Macao, in Aug. 1840 – was at the storming of Chuenpee, 7 Jan. 1841 – served in the boats at the capture of several rafts and of the last fort protecting the approaches to the city of Canton, 13 March[1] – was similarly employed at the capture of that city on 18 of the same month[2] – and, during the second series of hostilities against it, was engaged in the boats of the Cruizer 16, Capt. Henry Wells Giffard (to which vessel he had been removed), at the destruction, 26 May, of the whole line of defences extending about two miles from the British factory.[3] In July, 1841, prior to the arrival of the intelligence of his official promotion, which had taken place on 8 of the previous June, Mr. Drake was promoted by Sir Gordon Bremer to a Lieutenancy in the sloop last mentioned; in which we subsequently find him present at the storming of the batteries and defences of Amoy, the recapture of Chusan, and the assault on the fortified heights and citadel of Chinghae. Being next appointed, 22 Jan. 1842, to the Cornwallis 72, flagship of Sir Wm. Parker, he further witnessed, in the course of that year, the defeat of the enemy at Chapoo, Woosung, and Chin-Kiang-Foo, and was present at the pacification of Nanking. He returned to England, an invalid, in March, 1843, and remained in consequence on half-pay until appointed, 7 July following, to the Modeste 18, Capt. Thos. Baillie, fitting for the Pacific. Since his last promotion, 12 Jan. 1846, Commander Drake has been unemployed.