Drake Baronets

Drake Baronets

There have been four baronetcies created for people with the surname Drake, three in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Great Britain.

The Drake Baronetcy of Buckland, in the County of Devon, was created in the Baronetage of England on 2 August 1622 for Francis Drake, nephew of the privateer and explorer Sir Francis Drake. The first baronet was also a Member of Parliament, as were all his successors. The baronets' seat was originally Buckland Abbey, Sir Francis Drake's home, but upon their inheritance of Nutwell Court, near Exeter, the Drakes ceased to live year-round at Buckland. A daughter of the fourth baronet married George Augustus Eliott, the defender of Gibraltar, and their descendants ultimately inherited both Buckland Abbey and Nutwell Court. The baronetcy became dormant, and probably extinct, on the death of the fifth baronet in 1794.

The Drake Baronetcy of Shardeloes, in the County of Bucks, was created in the Baronetage of England on 17 July 1641 for William Drake, a cousin of the Drakes of Ashe discussed below. The only baronet was a Member of Parliament for Amersham, Bucks. The baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1669.

The Drake Baronetcy of Ashe, in the County of Devon, was created in the Baronetage of England on 31 August 1660 for John Drake, briefly a Member of Parliament for Bridport. The first Baronet was followed by his three sons in succession, the last of whom was succeeded by his two sons in turn. The first Baronet's sister, Elizabeth, married Sir Winston Churchill; they were the parents of the first Duke of Marlborough, who was probably born at the Drakes' seat, Ashe House, Musbury, Devon. The baronetcy became extinct on the death of the sixth baronet in 1733.

The Drake Baronetcy of Prospect, in the County of Devon, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 28 May 1782 for Rear Admiral Francis Samuel Drake, son and brother of the Sir Francis Henry Drakes, fourth and fifth Baronets of Buckland. The baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1789.