Drake was a younger son of
Sir John Drake, 1st Baronet. He matriculated at
Oriel College, Oxford in 1675 and was awarded BA in 1679 and MA in 1683 from
Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was knighted in 1685 and succeeded his brother Bernard as 4th Baronet in 1687.He married in 1687, Judith, the daughter and coheiress of William Eveleigh of Olcomb, Ottery St. Mary, Devon, He inherited Mount Drake and Ashe House from his sister in 1694. and secondly in 1705, Mary, the daughter of
Sir Peter Prideaux, 3rd Baronet, of Netherton, Devon. == Personal life and death ==