The Honourable James Drake |
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Senator for Queensland | |
In office 30 March 1901 – 31 December 1906 |
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Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Enoggera |
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In office 12 May 1888 – 7 December 1899 |
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Preceded by | James Dickson |
Succeeded by | Matthew Reid |
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council | |
In office 17 December 1899 – 13 May 1901 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
James George Drake 26 April 1850 London, England |
Died | 1 August 1941 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
(aged 91)
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.
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.
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.