William Draper (British Army officer)
| Sir William Draper | |
|---|---|
painting by Thomas Gainsborough
|
|
| Born | 1721 Bristol |
| Died | 8 January 1787 |
| Resting place | Bath Abbey |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | Eton College and King's College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Known for | rules for cricket |
| Title | Sir William Draper |
| Spouse(s) | 1.Caroline Beauclerk 2.Susanna De Lancey |
| Children | daughters |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Great Britain
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1744–1787 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | 79th Regiment of Foot |
| Commands held | Expedition to Manila |
| Battles/wars |
War of Austrian Succession Seven Years' War American War of Independence |
Lieutenant General Sir William Draper KCB (1721 – 8 January 1787), was a British military officer who conquered Manila in 1762 and was involved in the unsuccessful defence of Minorca in 1782. He was also involved in 1774 with a key meeting that agreed on an early set of cricket rules including the leg before wicket rule.
Draper was born in Bristol, then the second largest city in England, to a young Customs Officer. His father died the following year and the family struggled for money for many years, spending some time in India.
Draper was educated at Eton, to which he won a scholarship in 1733, and King's College, Cambridge.
In 1744, during the War of Austrian succession he became an Ensign in Lord Henry Beauclerk's regiment, adjutant in the 1st Foot Guards in 1746, and a lieutenant and captain in 1749.
In 1756 he married his first wife, Caroline, daughter of Lord William Beauclerk. He was also married with Eliza, she leave (forsake) him 1773 in Bombay./>
In the Seven Years' War he commanded the 79th Regiment of Foot, raised by himself, at the Siege of Madras in 1758–59.
A colonel in 1762, he had his greatest triumph when he led together with Vice-Admiral Samuel Cornish an expedition against Manila, capturing the city on 6 October 1762. The British occupation lasted until 1764, after which it was returned to Spain. During the capture Draper had signed an agreement, known as the Manila Ransom, by which the Spanish would pay the British a large amount of money. A large amount of plunder had also been taken, as Manila served as a trading base. News of Manila's fall arrived too late to affect the Treaty of Paris, and under its terms the British were compelled to return the city.
...
Wikipedia