Dawsonne Drake

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.

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 Buckland 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). ^{[citation needed]}

Post-governorship

Upon his return to India in 1764, he was tried by the Madras Council on charges filed by his enemies such as bribery, 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. ^{[citation needed]}

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. ^{[citation needed]} He died unmarried in 1784.

References

• Halili, Marie Christine (2004). Philippine History. Sampaloc Manila: Rex Bookstore. pp. 99–102. ISBN 978-971-23-3934-9. 
• "Ilocos Sur". 
• Spate, Oskar Hermann Khristian (1983). Monopolists and Freebooters. Kent, United Kingdom: Croom Helm Ltd. pp. 272–276. ISBN 0-7099-2371-6. 
• "Drakes of Buckland". 

v t e Spanish Governors-General of the Philippines 1565–1898 Under the Viceroyalty of New Spain (1565–1821) Miguel López de Legazpi Guido de Lavezaris Francisco de Sande Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa Diego Ronquillo Santiago de Vera Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas Pedro de Rojas Luis Pérez Dasmariñas Francisco Tello de Guzmán Pedro Bravo de Acuña Cristóbal Téllez de Almanza Count of Valle de Orizaba Juan de Silva Andrés Alcaraz Alonso Fajardo Jeronimo de Silva Fernándo de Silva Juan Niño de Tabora Lorenzo de Olaza Juan Cerezo de Salamanca Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera Diego Fajardo Sabiniano Manrique de Lara Diego de Salcedo Juan Manuel de la Peña Bonifaz Manuel de León Francisco Coloma Francisco Sotomayor Juan de Vargas Gabriel de Curuzealegui Alonso de Ávila Fuertes Fausto Cruzat y Góngora Domingo Zabálburu de Echevarri Martín de Urzua y Arismendi José Torralba Fernando Bustamante Francisco de la Cuesta Toribio José Cosio Fernándo Valdés Gaspar de la Torre Juan de Arechederra Marquis of Brindisi and Ovando Pedro Manuel de Arandía Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta Manuel Rojo Simón de Anda Francisco Javier de la Torre José Antonio Raón Simón de Anda Pedro de Sarrio The Count of the Conquest of Batanes Islands Pedro de Sarrio Félix Berenguer de Marquina Rafael María de Aguilar Mariano Fernández de Folgueras Manuel Gonzalez de Aguilar José Gardoqui Jaraveitia Mariano Fernández de Folgueras Under Spain (1821–1898) Mariano Fernández de Folgueras Juan Antonio Martínez Mariano Ricafort Palacin Pasqual Enrile Gabriel de Torres Joaquín de Crámer Pedro Antonio Salazar Andrés García Camba Luis Lardizábal Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri Francisco de Paula Alcalá de la Torre Narciso Clavería Antonio María Blanco Marquis of La Solana Ramón Montero Manuel Pavía Ramón Montero Manuel Crespo Ramón Montero Fernándo Norzagaray Ramón María Solano Juan Herrera Dávila José Lemery Salvador Valdés Rafael de Echague Joaquín del Solar Juan de Lara José Laureano de Sanz Juan Antonio Osorio Joaquín del Solar José de la Gándara Manuel Maldonado Cárlos María de la Torre Rafael de Izquierdo Manuel MacCrohon Juan Alaminos Manuel Blanco Valderrama Marquis of San Rafael Marquis of Oroquieta Rafael Rodríguez Arias Marquis of Estella Emilio Molíns Joaquín Jovellar Emilio Molíns Emilio Terrero Antonio Molto Federico Lobaton Duke of Rubí Eulogio Despujol Federico Ochando Marquis of Peña Plata Camilo de Polavieja José de Lachambre Marquis of Estella Basilio Augustín Fermín Jáudenes Francisco Rizzo Diego de los Ríos Italics indicates a member of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. Smallcaps indicates an oidor of the Real Audiencia of Manila.