James Drake

For other people named James Drake, see James Drake (disambiguation).

The Honourable James Drake
File:James Drake.jpg
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	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, Crown Prosecutor
Religion	Church of England

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.

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.

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.

Drake was state crown prosecutor from 1910 to 1920.

Death

He died in Brisbane Hospital and was buried in Toowong Cemetery. Drake was survived by four children from his marriage to Mary Street in 1897.

External links

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