Person Drake; James (1666 - 1707); physician and political writer Drake James physician and political writer 1666 - 1707 British Male Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England 1666 1666 Westminster, London, England 02 March 1707 17070302 Baptism: Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (4 December 1666)

Physician Anatomy Medicine Education: School at Wivelingham; Eton College, Buckinghamshire; Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; (MB 1690), (MD 1694) Career: Tory political pamphleteer; author of the comic 'The sham-lawyer: or the lucky extravagant' (1607); lost recently acquired post as commissioner for the sick & wounded as a result of his 'politically distasteful' publication 'Historia Anglo-Scotia (1703); was imprisoned or had his works burned publicly each year from 1702-1707; author of the anonymously published 'Memorial of the Church of England' (1705), a reward being offered to any who might identify the author; died of a fever (1707); author of the posthumously published (1707) 'Anthropologia Nova: or, a new system of anatomy', to which Judith Drake wrote the preface. Memberships: MB Cantab (1690) MD (1694) FRS (1701) FRCP (1706) Parents: Robert Drake, attorney Spouse: Judith Drake (fl. 1696–1723) Children: Ann (1700); James (c 1703) Best known as a Tory political pamphleteer. Drake moved to London in 1693 where he was encouraged to pursue the study of medicine by Sir Thomas Millington 'the most eminent practitioner in the College of Physicians'. Following the completion of his medical qualifications, he began publishing papers on anatomy and politics. He became a controversial figure following the publication of his 'Historia Anglo-Scotia', which was based on a manuscript by an unknown author, and alleged to trace relations between England and Scotland from the time of William the Conqueror to that of Queen Elizabeth. It angered the Scots who claimed it contained 'many false and injurious reflections' (N&Q, 3.519), and as a consequence burned it at Mercat Cross, Edinburgh, on 30 June 1703. Published a paper in the transactions of the Royal Society, entitled 'Some influence of respiration on the motion of the heart hitherto unobserved' (31 October 1702). Fellow 01/12/1701 35 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; Royal College of Physicians, Inspiring Physicians [https://history.rcplondon.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/james-drake; las accessed 11/10/2023] References: Hannah Smith, 'English 'feminist' writings and Judith Drake's 'An essay in defence of the female sex (1696)', Historical Journal; 2001, 44, 3, pp 727-748 International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 doi/10.1098/rstl.1702.0027 RCN 37306 1666 - 2 Mar 1707 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 25/10/2023 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA3761 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 01/11/2023 RS_NET\VidaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/46770231 37185a39-0f9e-4632-89bd-f81c1d6e6d8b