James Drake

The Honourable
James Drake
Senator for Queensland
In office
30 March 1901 – 31 December 1906
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Enoggera
In office
12 May 1888 – 7 December 1899
Preceded by James Dickson
Succeeded by Matthew Reid
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office
17 December 1899 – 13 May 1901
Personal details
Born James George Drake
(1850-04-26)26 April 1850
London, England
Died 1 August 1941(1941-08-01) (aged 91)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place Toowong Cemetery
Nationality English Australian
Political party Protectionist Party
Other political
affiliations		 Opposition
Spouse(s) Mary Street (m.1897 d.1924)
Occupation Barrister, Journalist, Politician, Crown Prosecutor, Judge

James George Drake (26 April 1850 – 1 August 1941) was an Australian politician. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council and a member of the first federal ministry as an Australian Senator.

Early life, education, and early career

Drake was born in London and educated at King's College School, and migrated to Australia in 1873, working as a storekeeper and journalist in Queensland. He became a shorthand reporter for the Parliament of Queensland in 1876 until he was admitted as a barrister in 1882.

Military service

Drake was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Queeensland Defence Force in 1886, and promoted to captain in 1888 and major in 1900.[1][2][3]

Political career

A Protectionist, he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for the Electoral district of Enoggera from 12 May 1888 to 7 December 1899. Following his period as an elected representative, he was appointed a life Member of the Legislative Council of Queensland on 7 December 1899, during which he was Postmaster-General and Secretary for Public Instruction in Queensland. Although membership of the Legislative Council was a life appointment, he resigned on 13 May 1901 in order to pursue a career in newly established federal parliament.[4][5]

Drake was an early and energetic supporter of Australia. He was elected to the Australian Senate in 1901 as a Senator for Queensland. He was Postmaster-General 1901–03 in the ministry of Edmund Barton. He was Minister for Defence 1903, Attorney General 1903–04 and Vice-President of the Executive Council 1904–05. He was left out of Alfred Deakin's second ministry and retired from parliament in 1906. He stood for the Queensland state seat of North Brisbane in 1907, but only gained 137 votes.[4]

Drake was state crown prosecutor from 1910 to 1920 and in 1912 was appointed Acting Deputy Judge of the District Court of Queensland.[6]

Death

He died in Brisbane Hospital and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.[7] He was the last surviving member of the Barton, Reid and the first Deakin Cabinet. Drake was survived by four children from his marriage to Mary Street in 1897.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Commission of Appointment - Lieutenant, Land Defence Force - James George Drake, Queensland State Archives Item ID2765941, Letters patent".
  2. ↑ "Commission of Appointment - Captain in the Land Defence Force - James George Drake, Queensland State Archives Item ID2765941, Letters patent".
  3. ↑ "Commission of Appointment - Major, Unattached List, Land Defence Force - James George Drake, Queensland State Archives Item ID2767604, Letters patent".
  4. 1 2 3 Gibbney, H. J. (1981). "Drake, James George (1850–1941)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 19 October 2007.
  5. ↑ "Former Members Register". Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Instrument of Appointment - Acting Deputy Judge, District Courts - James George Drake, Queensland State Archives Item ID2768641, Letters patent".
  7. ↑ Drake James George Archived 8 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
Political offices
Preceded by
James Robert Dickson & Robert Bulcock
(dual member constituency)		 Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Electoral district of Enoggera
12 May 1888 – 7 December 1899		 Succeeded by
Matthew Reid
Preceded by
 Legislative Council of Queensland
7 December 1899 – 13 May 1901		 Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Forrest		 Postmaster-General
1901–03		 Succeeded by
Philip Fysh
Preceded by
Alfred Deakin		 Attorney General
1903–04		 Succeeded by
H.B. Higgins
Preceded by
John Forrest		 Minister for Defence
1901–03		 Succeeded by
Austin Chapman
Preceded by
Gregor McGregor		 Vice-President of the Executive Council
1904–05		 Succeeded by
Thomas Ewing
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