squadron, was compelled to put back, and did not go to America till the spring of 1779. During that year and the early part of 1780, Drake continued under the command of Vice-admiral Marriot Arbuthnot [q. v.] He was then sent to join Rodney in the West Indies, and accompanied him to the coast of North America, and back again to the West Indies, where he received a commission as rear-admiral, dated 26 Sept. 1780. He then hoisted his flag in the Princessa of 70 guns; took part under Rodney in the operations against the Dutch Islands, and was detached under Sir Samuel Hood to blockade Martinique, where, with his flag in the Gibraltar, he was warmly engaged in the partial action with De Grasse on 29 April 1781 [see Hood, Samuel, Viscount]. In August, with his flag again in the Princessa, he accompanied Hood to North America, and commanded the van in the untoward action off the mouth of the Chesapeake on 5 Sept. [see Graves, Thomas, Lord], in which the Princessa received such damage that Drake was compelled to shift his flag temporarily to the Alcide. He afterwards returned with Hood to the West Indies, took part with him in the brilliant but unavailing defence of St. Christopher's in January 1782, and on 12 April, by the accident of position, had the distinguished honour of commanding the van of the fleet under Sir George Rodney in the battle of Dominica [see Rodney, George Brydges, Lord]. His conduct on this occasion deservedly won for him a baronetcy, 28 May 1782. He continued in the West Indies till the peace, after which he had no further service. In 1789 he was elected member of parliament for Plymouth, and on 12 Aug. was appointed a junior lord of the admiralty, but died shortly afterwards, 19 Oct. 1789. He was twice married, but left no issue, and the baronetcy became extinct. His elder brother, Francis William, a vice-admiral, with whom he is frequently confused, died about the same time, also without issue; and the eldest brother, Francis Henry, the hereditary baronet, dying also without issue this title too became extinct, though it was afterwards (1821) revived in the grandson of Anne Pollexfen, sister of these three brothers, and wife of George Augustus Eliott, lord Heathfield [q. v.]
[Charnock's Biog. Nav. vi. 60, 162; Beatson's Nav. and Mil. Memoirs—both these writers confuse the two younger brothers with each other and with a Captain William Drake (no relation) who commanded the Portsmouth store-ship in 1743–4; official documents in the Public Record Office; Wotton's Baronetage; Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies.]
DRAKE, JAMES (1667–1707), political writer, was born in 1667 at Cambridge, where his father was a solicitor. He was educated at Wivelingham and Eton; admitted at Caius College, Cambridge, 20 March 1684; and graduated B.A. and M.A. with ‘unusual honours,’ it is said, ‘from men of the brightest parts.’ In 1693 he went to London, and was encouraged in the study of medicine by Sir Thomas Millington. He became M.B. in 1690 and M.D. in 1694. In 1701 he was elected F.R.S., and was admitted fellow of the College of Physicians 30 June 1706. In 1697 he had a share in a successful pamphlet called ‘Commendatory Verses upon the Author of Prince Arthur and King Arthur’ (Sir R. Blackmore). He became better known as a vigorous tory pamphleteer. In 1702 he published a pamphlet called ‘The History of the Last Parliament.’ It was written in the tory interest and accused the whigs of contemplating a ‘new model’ of ‘government’ and of systematically traducing the princess, now Queen Anne. The House of Lords had been investigating the report that William had plotted to secure the succession to the crown for the elector of Hanover. Drake's pamphlet was noticed in the course of the debate. He confessed the authorship and was summoned before the House of Lords, which ordered him to be prosecuted. He was tried and acquitted. In 1703 he published ‘Historia Anglo-Scotica,’ from a manuscript by an ‘unknown author.’ It was offensive to the presbyterians and was burnt at the Mercat Cross, Edinburgh, 30 June 1703. In 1704 he joined with Mr. Poley, member for Ipswich, in composing ‘The Memorial of the Church of England, humbly offered to the consideration of all true lovers of our Church and Constitution.’ This gave great offence to Marlborough and Godolphin, who were beginning to separate themselves from the tories. The book was also presented as a libel by the grand jury of the city on 31 Aug. 1705, and burnt by the common hangman. The queen mentioned it in her speech to the new parliament (27 Oct. 1705). After voting that the church was not in danger, both houses (14 Dec.) requested the queen to punish persons responsible for scandalous insinuations to the contrary. A proclamation was issued offering reward for the discovery of the authors of the memorial. The printer made a statement implicating three members of the House of Commons, Poley, Ward, and Sir Humphry Mackworth, but stated that the pamphlet was brought to him by two women, one of them masked, and the printed copies delivered by him to porters, some of whom were arrested. No further
