Francis William Drake (baptized August 22, 1724 – December 18, 1787) born in Buckland Monocharum, Devon the third son of Anne Heathcote and Sir Francis Henry Drake, a descendant of Sir Francis Drake. Francis William is often confused with his younger brother, also a naval officer whose death occurred around the same time. All four sons of Sir Francis Henry Drake have Francis as their first name, which further adds to the confusion of Francis William. The son’s names were, Francis Henry, Francis Duncombe, Francis William and Francis Samuel. August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... Events January 14 - King Philip V of Spain abdicates the throne February 20 - The premiere of Giulio Cesare, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, takes place in London June 23 - Treaty of Constantinople signed. ... December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1787 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The inner harbour, Brixham, south Devon, at low tide Devon is a large county in South West England, bordering on Cornwall to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... Sir Francis Drake, c. ...

Not much is know of Francis William's early life. Drake joined the Royal Navy at an early age (about 8 or 10). He received the rank as Captain on January 29, 1748 at the early age of 23. That year he commanded HMS Fowey, part of the Royal Navy Atlantic fleet. As England and Spain were at war, upon sight of the Spanish vessel St. Judea he gave the orders to attack and eventually captured it with its 108 crew. The HMS Fowey was shipwrecked at the Florida Keys while towing the St. Judea to Virginia. An Investigation was launched by the Admiralty, but all was exonerated on testimony that they were the victim of a strange current. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... Captain is both a nautical term and a military rank. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... Palm trees in Islamorada The Florida Keys is an archipelago or cluster of about 1700 islands in the extreme southeast of the United States. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Official languages English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Tim Kaine (D-Governor Elect) Senators John Warner (R) George Allen (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 7. ...

Drake, in command of HMS Mercury, was one of Commodore George Brydges Rodney's senior officers and was sent into Conception and Trinity Bay's and as far north as Cape Bonavista where he had authority to hear appeals from decisions of fishing admirals and to enforce the various provisions of King William's Act of 1699. Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, 1719–1792 by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, painted 1791, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney (February 1718 – May 24, 1792), was a British naval officer. ... Conception Bay bounded by Cape St. ... Trinity Bay is a large bay on the northeastern coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Events January 26 - Treaty of Karlowitz signed March 30 - the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa. ...

In 1750 at the age of 26, Drake served as the de facto Governor of Newfoundland under Commodore Rodney, senior naval officer in 1750 and 1751, and was promoted to the full position in 1752. Map of Newfoundland Newfoundland (French: Terre-Neuve; Irish: Talamh an Éisc; Latin: Terra Nova) is a large island off the northeast coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

Drake was instrumental in making reforms in the Newfoundland justice system in the way that prisoners were incarcerated and the requirement that people charged with criminal offences had to be transported to England for trial. The instructions given to Drake were to appoint judges and commissioners oyer and terminer to hear all criminal cases except treason. After returning to England Drake had suggested additional reforms urging that the provision forbidding the execution of those convicted of criminal offences be changed. He suggested that a secure prison be built in St. John’s as prisoners could easily escape or freeze to death while awaiting transport to England while incarcerated over the winter while the British cabinet determined their fate. Changes were granted including the right to execute prisoners found guilty of crimes. A prison is a place in which people are confined and deprived of a range of liberties. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... Oyer and terminer is the Anglo-French name, meaning to hear and determine, for one of the commissions by which a judge of assize sits. ... In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to ones nation. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Avancez (go forward) Nickname: The City of Legends City of St. ...

Drake saw action in the West Indies during the Seven Years War also at the Downs and at Portsmouth and saw action during the American Revolutionary War. He was promoted Rear-Admiral of the Blue in 1778 and Rear-Admiral of the Red in 1779, Vice-Admiral of the Blue in 1780 and appointed to command a squadron of the Channel fleet under Vice-Admiral George Darby. Severe attacks of gout limited his ability to command, however, and terminated his active career abruptly that year; he was nevertheless promoted Vice-Admiral of the Red in September 1787. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... This article is about the 1756–1763 war. ... A downland is an area of open chalk upland. ... This article is about the English city of Portsmouth. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, allies British Empire, allies Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties {{{casualties1}}} {{{casualties2}}} The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence was the military side of the American Revolution. ... Admiral is a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, outranked only by the rank Admiral of the Fleet. ... Admiral is a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, outranked only by the rank Admiral of the Fleet. ...

On January 23, 1788 in Ripley he was married by special licence, because she was a minor, to the only daughter of George Onslow, for many years the member of parliament for Guildford. From that relationship Drake fathered a son, Francis Henry Drake. Francis Henry in 1794 claimed succession to his uncle in baronet but was unsuccessful because of doubts raised of his parents’ marriage. January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses of Ripley, see Ripley Ripley is a village in Surrey, which grew on the main A3 road from London to Portsmouth. ... Georges Onslow (July 27, 1784 – October 3, 1853) was a prolific French composer of noble birth and English descent, who studied with Johann Baptiste Cramer and Anton Reicha. ... Guildford is the county town of Surrey, England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region. ...

Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, 1719–1792 by Jean-Laurent Mosnier, painted 1791, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney (February 1718 – May 24, 1792), was a British naval officer. ... This is a list of viceroys for the colony, dominion and province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex... 1752 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

External links

• Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online