Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Drake, William
DRAKE, WILLIAM (1723–1801), antiquary and philologist, second surviving son of Francis Drake (1696–1771) [q. v.], by his wife Mary, third daughter of George Woodyear of Crook Hill, near Doncaster, was baptised at St. Michael-le-Belfry, York, on 10 Jan. 1722–3. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 21 March 1740–1, proceeded B.A. 19 Oct. 1744, and took orders (College Register). For a few years he was third master of Westminster School. In 1750 he was appointed master of Felstead grammar school, Essex (Gent. Mag. xx. 237), and rector of Layer Marney in the same county, 1 Dec. 1764 (Morant, Hist. of Essex, i. 409, ii. 421). He continued to hold both appointments until 1777, when he was presented to the vicarage of Isleworth, Middlesex. He died at Isleworth on 13 May 1801 (Gent. Mag. lxxi. pt. i. 574; Aungier, Hist. of Syon Monastery, &c. pp. 145, 161 (tomb), 183).
Drake, who had been elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries on 29 March 1770, contributed the following papers to 'Archæologia:' 'Letter on the Origin of the word Romance,' iv. 142–8; 'Observations on two Roman Stations in the county of Essex,' v. 137–42; 'Letter on the Origin of the English Language,' v. 306–17; 'Further Remarks on the Origin of the English Language,' v. 379–89; 'Account of some Discoveries in the Church of Brotherton in the county of York,' ix. 253–67; 'Observations on the Derivation of the English Language,' ix. 332–61.
[Davies's Memoir of Francis Drake in Yorkshire Archæological and Topographical Journal, iii. 33–54; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ii. 87 n.; Nichols's Illustr. of Lit. iv. 620; Lysons's Environs, iii. 108, Supplement, p. 204; [Gough's] List of Society of Antiquaries, 1717–96, p. 23; Alumni Oxon. (Foster), i. 386.]