Dawsonne Drake
Encyclopedia
The Rt. Hon.
Dawsonne Drake (1724–1784) was the sole British governor of Manila
from 1762 to 1764, during the British occupation
of the Seven Years' War
. Prior to his term as the Manila
administrator, he was the governor of White Town from 1742 to 1762.
and descendant of Sir Francis Drake, and his wife, Sophia Bugden.
In 1742, Dawsonne Drake joined the British East India Company
where he held the position as the clerk. At that time, he also became the governor of White Town, Madras. Because of his faithful service and good connection, he was promoted again and again until he became a member of the Madras Council.
On 2 November 1762, he assumed gubernatorial office as the first British governor of Manila
. He was assisted by a council of four, consisting of John L. Smith, Claud Russel, Henry Brooke and Samuel Johnson. During his administration in the Philippines, his term was scandalized by bitter quarrels with various military officers (General William Draper
; Admiral Cornish; Major Felt; Captain Thomas Backhouse (command British forces in Manila); and Captain
William Brereton
, RN
).
, misappropriation of public funds, and violation of orders from the Company
. He was found guilty and was sentenced to be dismissed and shipped back to England
. The directors of East India Company at London
, however, in consideration of his previous services, modified the sentence by simply demoting his rank.
Drake continued to serve as member of the Madras Council until his death in 1784. He left a large fortune, including some valuable Spanish paintings which were part of the loot of Manila. He died unmarried in 1784.
The Right Honourable
The Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...
Dawsonne Drake (1724–1784) was the sole British governor of Manila
Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
from 1762 to 1764, during the British occupation
British occupation of the Philippines
The British occupation of Manila occurred between 1762 and 1764, when a British force occupied Manila, the Spanish colonial capital of the Philippines, and the nearby principal port, Cavite, both on Manila Bay....
of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. Prior to his term as the Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
administrator, he was the governor of White Town from 1742 to 1762.
Governorships
Born in Madras, India (now Chennai, India) in 1724, Dawsonne Drake was the second son of George Drake (4 December 1696 - 1741), a native of BucklandBuckland
-People:*Francis Trevelyan Buckland , English zoologist and natural historian*Frank Buckland , Canadian sports administrator*Herbert Tudor Buckland , British architect*James Buckland , English rugby union player...
and descendant of Sir Francis Drake, and his wife, Sophia Bugden.
In 1742, Dawsonne Drake joined the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
where he held the position as the clerk. At that time, he also became the governor of White Town, Madras. Because of his faithful service and good connection, he was promoted again and again until he became a member of the Madras Council.
On 2 November 1762, he assumed gubernatorial office as the first British governor of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. He was assisted by a council of four, consisting of John L. Smith, Claud Russel, Henry Brooke and Samuel Johnson. During his administration in the Philippines, his term was scandalized by bitter quarrels with various military officers (General William Draper
William Draper (British Army officer)
Sir William Draper KCB , was a British military officer who conquered Manila in 1762, but lost Minorca in 1782. He was involved in 1774 with a key meeting that agreed an early set of cricket rules including the leg before wicket rule.- Biography :Draper was born in Bristol, then the second largest...
; Admiral Cornish; Major Felt; Captain Thomas Backhouse (command British forces in Manila); and Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
William Brereton
William Brereton
William Brereton is the name of:* William Brereton in the privy chamber of Henry VIII* Sir William Brereton MP for Cheshire in 1547 and 1559...
, RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
).
Post-governorship
Upon his return to India in 1764, he was tried by the Madras Council on charges filed by his enemies such as briberyBribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
, misappropriation of public funds, and violation of orders from the Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. He was found guilty and was sentenced to be dismissed and shipped back to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The directors of East India Company at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, however, in consideration of his previous services, modified the sentence by simply demoting his rank.
Drake continued to serve as member of the Madras Council until his death in 1784. He left a large fortune, including some valuable Spanish paintings which were part of the loot of Manila. He died unmarried in 1784.