Sir Francis Drake, 3rd Baronet


Sir Francis Drake, 3rd Baronet, of Buckland Abbey in the parish of Buckland Monachorum and of Meavy, both in Devon, England, was elected seven times as a Member of Parliament for Tavistock in Devon, in 1673, 1679, 1681, 1689, 1690, 1696 and 1698.

Origins

He was baptised on 1 May 1642, at Buckland Monachorum, the eldest surviving son and heir of Thomas Drake, a major in the cavalry of the Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War, the second son of Sir Francis Drake, 1st Baronet and younger brother of Sir Francis Drake, 2nd Baronet. His mother was Susan Crimes, a daughter of William Crymes, of Buckland Crymes and a sister of Elisha Crymes MP.

Career

He succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his uncle Sir Francis Drake, 2nd Baronet on 6 June 1661. He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 3 June 1663, aged 16 and was awarded MA on 28 September 1663. In 1673 he was elected a Member of Parliament for Tavistock in Devon, in a by-election to the Cavalier Parliament. He was re-elected for Tavistock in 1679, 1681, 1689, 1690, 1696 and 1698. He purchased the manor of Meavy in Devon, and resided at the manor house west of St Peter's Church, in which survives the "Drake Aisle" or manorial chapel. The external stonework is inscribed with the date "1705" and the "Drake star" from his coat of arms.

Marriages and children

Drake married three times, with children only from his third wife:
He died at the age of about 75 at Meavy where he was buried on 15 January 1718.