Editing Francis Drake (section)

==Political career==
Drake first became a member of parliament for the last session of the 4th Parliament of [[Elizabeth I]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/parliament/1572|title=1572|website=History of Parliament.|access-date=28 July 2017|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729050636/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/parliament/1572|url-status=live}}</ref> on 16 January 1581, for the constituency of [[Camelford (UK Parliament constituency)|Camelford]]. He did not actively participate at this point, and on 17 February 1581 he was granted leave of absence "for certain his necessary business in the service of Her Majesty".<ref name="fd_history_parl"/>

Drake became the Mayor of [[Plymouth]] in September 1581.<ref name="ODNB04"/> During his tenure, he installed a compass in the town's [[Plymouth Hoe|Hoe]], and passed a law regulating the local [[pilchard]] trade.{{sfn|Sugden|2006|p=163}} During his term as lord mayor, Drake contracted to construct a [[Plymouth Leat|leat]], or canal, to bring water from the [[River Meavy]], and to build six new gristmills on it from which he derived a substantial profit.{{sfn|Kelsey|2000|pp=229–230}}

Drake became a member of parliament again in 1584 for [[Bossiney (UK Parliament constituency)|Bossiney]],<ref name="ODNB04"/> on the forming of the 5th Parliament of Elizabeth I.<ref name="HistoryofParliament2017">{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/parliament/1584|title=1584|website=History of Parliament|access-date=28 July 2017|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729050840/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/parliament/1584|url-status=live}}</ref> He served the duration of the parliament and was active in issues regarding the navy, fishing, early American colonisation, and issues related chiefly to [[Devon]]. He spent the time covered by the next two parliamentary terms engaged in other duties and an expedition to [[Portugal]].<ref name="fd_history_parl"/>

He became a member of parliament for [[Plymouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Plymouth]] in 1593.<ref name="fd_history_parl"/> He was active in issues of interest to Plymouth as a whole, but also to emphasise defence against the Spanish.<ref name="fd_history_parl">{{cite web|last1=Hasler|first1=P W|title=Drake, Francis|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/drake-francis-1540-96|website=History of Parliament|publisher=The History of Parliament Trust|access-date=28 July 2017|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729003854/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/drake-francis-1540-96|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-francis-drake| access-date= 28 July 2017| title= 10 Things You May Not Know About Francis Drake| last= Andrews| first= Evan| date= 4 April 2016| website= [[History (U.S. TV network)|History]]| archive-date= 29 July 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170729015226/http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-francis-drake| url-status= live}}</ref>