(1747 - 95) of Ewshot, Hants., 1st s. of William Drake of Shardeloes; educ. Westminster and BNC Oxf.1765; m. 1 1778 Mary Hussey (d. 1778), 2 1781 Rachel Elizabeth Ives; MP 1768 - 95.
1768 - 9 [Calais Sep. 1768] Turin (8 Nov. 1768), Genoa (17 Nov.), Leghorn (25 Nov.), Pisa, Florence (1 Dec. 1768 - 16 Jan. 1769), Poggibonsi, Siena, Radicofani, Bolsena, Montefiascone, Rome (28 Jan. - 5 Apr.), Naples (11 Apr. - 7 May), Rome (10 May - 6 Jun.), Loreto, Bologna (13 Jun.), Parma (25 Jun.), Mantua, Venice (2 Jul. - ), Verona (by 7 Aug.) [Dover 12 Oct.]
William Drake travelled with Dr Thomas Townson, as his father had done before him, and with a young Oxford contemporary, Henry Maxwell. At the outset Townson made one condition, which was readily agreed, that he should each Sunday read the Anglican service to them.1 Their journey was described in letters from Drake and Townson, which furnish their itinerary.2 Drake arrived in Calais 'in mighty good humour with our Expedition' and the sanguine tone is maintained throughout. They crossed into Italy by Mont Cenis 'extremely charmed ... with the horrible & romantic beauties' of the Alps (17 Nov.); at Pisa Drake dined with Horace Mann, and in Rome they took 'very good' lodgings at the former Monte d'Oro, then run by an Irish tailor (28 Jan.). Colin Morison was chosen as cicerone, for his classical scholarship; they had 'associated a Gentleman with us, [Richard] Jodrell, & are very particular in sallying forth at ten, taking our carriages with us, & alighting upon classic ground, thus we amuse ourselves till about one'(19 Feb.). At Naples they saw the King and Queen at dinner ('the king made quick haste to get away to his favourite sports, the Queen generally reserves herself for a snug repast in the German manner'); at another dinner Drake observed Lady Orford was 'all smiles' for their host the Prime Minister [Bernardo Tanucci], 'sat by him at dinner, & was not behindhand in laughing at his jokes'(24 Apr.). The party returned to Rome in time for the election of Ganganelli as the new Pope (Clement XIV). 'Out of England, I believe Rome is the place I should choose to fix my residence in' wrote Drake (5 Jun.); 'indeed I have literally had here the fullest enjoyment of Health & Pleasure, Viva Roma'(3 Apr.). The three then returned fairly swiftly through Venice,3 Austria and Germany. Townson recorded landing at Dover on 12 October 1769, after an absence of 'one year and sixteen days'.1
1. R.H. Cholmondeley, Heber Letters, 187. 2. Drake letters MSS. Notes by J. Cornforth of Townson letters in the Bagot MSS (Staffs RO, d 3260/4). 3. ASV IS 759.