Dawsonne Drake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dawsonne Drake
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| 1st British Governor-General of the Philippines Governor of Manila |
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| In office 2 November 1762 – 31 May 1764 |
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| Monarch | George III of the United Kingdom |
| Preceded by | Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra (As Governor-General of the Philippines and Manila) |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Javier de la Torre (As the Governor-General of the Philippines and Manila since 17 March 1764) |
| Governor of White Town | |
| In office 1742–1762 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1724 Madras, India (now Chennai, India) |
| Died | 1784 (aged 59–60) India |
Dawsonne Drake (1724–1784) was an important British official. He was the first British governor of Manila from 1762 to 1764. This happened during a time when the British took control of the Philippines as part of a big war called the Seven Years' War. Before this, he was also a governor in India.
Dawsonne Drake's Early Life and Career
Dawsonne Drake was born in 1724 in a city called Madras, India. Today, this city is known as Chennai, India. He was the second son in his family. His father, George Drake, was a descendant of the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake.
In 1742, Dawsonne Drake started working for the British East India Company. This was a powerful British trading company. He began as a clerk, which is like an office assistant. At the same time, he also became the governor of a place called White Town in Madras. Because he worked hard and had good connections, he moved up in the company. He eventually became a member of the Madras Council, which was an important group that helped manage the company's business.
Becoming Governor of Manila
On 2 November 1762, Dawsonne Drake became the first British governor of Manila. This happened after a big fight called the Battle of Manila (1762), where the British took control. As governor, he led the Manila Council. Two other officials, Claud Russell and Samuel Johnson, helped him.
During his time as governor in the Philippines, Drake faced many challenges. He had to collect a special payment called a "ransom" from the city. He also worked to encourage trade and protect the area around Manila. He sometimes had disagreements with military officers who were also there.
After His Time as Governor
After his time in Manila, Dawsonne Drake went back to Madras in April 1766. His actions as governor were reviewed by the Madras Council. He faced questions about how he managed money and his authority.
After this review, his position within the company was changed. He was given a different rank in the council at Fort St. George, India. He passed away in 1784.
