Francis Drake, 1st Baronet

Who was Francis Drake, 1st Baronet?

Sir Francis Drake, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in two parliaments between 1625 and 1629.

Drake was the son of Thomas Drake of Buckland Abbey, Devon and his wife Elizabeth Gregory, widow of John Elford. His father was the brother of Sir Francis Drake and accompanied him in his sea adventures. Drake was baptised at Buckland Monachorum on 16 September 1588. He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 23 November 1604 aged 15, and was of Lincoln's Inn in 1606. In 1622 King James sought to make up the money denied him by parliament, by seeking voluntary contributions from the county gentry. Following this, Drake was created baronet on 2 August 1622.

In 1624, Drake was elected Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle. He was elected MP for Devon in 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. He was High Sheriff of Devon in 1633.

Drake married firstly Jane Bampfield who died in 1613, and secondly Joan Stroud, daughter of Sir William Stroud of Newnham. His son Francis succeeded to the baronetcy.