Francis Drake (died 1634)
Francis Drake (c. 1580-1634), of Esher Place and Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, was an English Member of Parliament (MP).
He was the only son of Richard Drake of Esher Place and Ursula Stafford.[1] He matriculated at New College, Oxford in July 1593, aged 13.[2] Four years later he was admitted to the Inner Temple.[3] He married his first wife Joan Tothill in 1603, shortly before his father's death. From his father he inherited a protracted and expensive lawsuit over the estate of his kinsman Francis Drake, the privateer, which was abandoned 3 years later.[4] Although he became a gentleman pensioner to James I and a gentleman of the Privy chamber extraordinary to Charles I, he did not succeed in emulating his father's success as a courtier.[4] His wife was a considerable heiress, but her health was poor. At her instigation the couple moved from Esher to Walton-on-Thames.[4]
He was a Member of the Parliament of England for Amersham in 1625 and 1626. He was MP for Sandwich in 1624 and Bridport in 1628.[4] His activities as an MP indicate his puritan religious inclinations.[4]
Family
Drake married 3 times:
- Joan (d. 1625), daughter and coheir of William Tothill of Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire, a Six Clerk in Chancery.[1]
- Philadelphia, daughter of Sir Edward Davies[4]
- Anne (d.1665), daughter of John Barlow of Petersfield, Hampshire and widow of Josias White, vicar of Hornchurch, Essex.[4]
He died in March 1634 and was buried at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.[1] He left 2 sons who also sat in parliament: William and Francis.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Vivian, J.L. (1895). The visitations of the county of Devon. p. 293.
- ^ "Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714: Disbrowe-Dyve".
- ^ "Inner Temple Admissions Database". Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "DRAKE, Francis (C.1580-1634), of Esher Place and Walton-on-Thames, Surrey". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 16 February 2026.