biography text
Drake succeeded as a child to estates carrying a controlling interest at Amersham, for which he was returned at the first opportunity after coming of age. A Tory, who voted against the Hanoverians in 1746, he was classed by the ministry as ‘against’ in 1747. The 2nd Lord Egmont, in his electoral survey c.1749-50, notes on Amersham: ‘William Drake commands this borough and probably will bring in two proper men for certain reasons’, the Prince of Wales adding ‘which I am sure of’. He died 8 Aug. 1796.