Francis Drake

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. He matriculated at New College, Oxford in July 1593, aged 13. Four years later he was admitted to the Inner Temple. 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. His activities as an MP indicate his puritan religious inclinations.

Family Drake married 3 times: Joan (d. 1625), daughter and coheir of William Tothill of Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire, a Six Clerk in Chancery. Philadelphia, daughter of Sir Edward Davies Anne (d.1665), daughter of John Barlow of Petersfield, Hampshire and widow of Josias White, vicar of Hornchurch, Essex.

He died in March 1634 and was buried at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He left 2 sons who also sat in parliament: William and Francis.