Francis Drake collection

The collection comprises of correspondence by Drake relating to the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott)

Francis Randall Hugo Drake entered the Royal Navy as assistant clerk in 1896 and three years later was promoted to assistant paymaster. During the Boer War, he served in HMS Pelorus, and in 1905 was appointed clerk to the flag secretary in HMS Drake. Retiring from the Navy in 1908, he joined the British National Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott), as expedition secretary and meteorologist in Terra Nova.

After the expedition, he re-enlisted in the Royal Navy as staff paymaster, serving in various ships during the First World War. He retired as paymaster commander from the Navy in 1928 and died in 1936.

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient.

By appointment.

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Anyone wishing to consult material should ensure they note the entire MS reference and the name of the originator.

The term holograph is used when the item is wholly in the handwriting of the author. The term autograph is used when the author has signed the item.

Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to SPRI Library Antarctic Biographies Card Index and British polar exploration and research, a historical and medallic record with biographies 1818-1999 by Lieutenant Colonel Neville W. Poulsom and Rear Admiral John A.L. Myres, Savannah Publications, London (2000) SPRI Library Shelf 737.2 and Robert Keith Headland Antarctic Chronology, unpublished corrected revision of Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events, (1 December 2001) Cambridge University Press (1989) ISBN 0521309034

Clive Holland Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England - a catalogue, Garland Publishing, New York and London (1982) ISBN 0824093941.

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