William Alfred Drake (1897 - 1949)

William's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Drake family tree.

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William's Family

Drake Hugh Drake

Agnes Rainey Drake

William Alfred Drake

Parents:

Drake Hugh Drake

Unknown - Unknown

Agnes Rainey Drake

Unknown - Unknown

We currently do not have photos of William Alfred Drake. Below are potential family photos that share William's last name or surname. Pictures really do say a thousand words. Add photos of William during various points of his life

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Clifford Julian Drake

Added: Mar 28, 2020

Henrietta (Fosnaugh) Drake

Added: Mar 19, 2020

Edith Ellen Drake

Added: Dec 28, 2019

Edith Ellen Drake

Added: Dec 28, 2019

Albert Henry William Drake

Added: Feb 22, 2019

Albert Henry William Drake

Added: Feb 22, 2019

Albert Henry William Drake Memorial

Added: Feb 22, 2019

Sir Francis Drake

Added: Oct 28, 2016

Monahan-Nelson wedding announcement

Added: Jan 07, 2015

Angie Drake

Added: Sep 08, 2014

Gerta Nascher Drake

Added: May 26, 2014

Sophie Rebecca Drake

Added: May 26, 2014

Janet Ann Drake

Added: May 26, 2014

Janet Ann Drake

Added: May 26, 2014

Peter Charles Drake

Added: May 26, 2014

What do you remember about William Alfred Drake? Share your memories of special moments and stories you have heard about him. Or just leave a comment to show the world that William is remembered.

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Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during William's lifetime

In 1897, in the year that William Alfred Drake was born, on March 4th, William McKinley became the 25th President of the United States. He had beaten William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 election by 51% to 46.7% in the popular vote. Six months into his second term as President, McKinley was assassinated.

In 1909, he was merely 12 years old when Polish physician and medical researcher Paul Ehrlich found a cure for syphilis, which was a prevalent (but undiscussed) disease. He found that an arsenic compound completely cured syphilis within 3 weeks.

In 1923, at the age of 26 years old, William was alive when on August 2, President Warren G. Harding died in office, apparently of a heart attack. He was staying at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco after completing a nationwide tour. Suffering from cramps, indigestion, a fever and shortness of breath, his doctor thought he had food poisoning. After several days of being ill, he suddenly shuddered, slumped over, and died. There were rumors of foul play (some thought that his wife had poisoned him because of his affairs) but no evidence has ever been found.

In 1938, when he was 41 years old, on October 30th, a Sunday, The Mercury Theatre on the Air broadcast Orson Welles' special Halloween show The War of the World's. A clever take on H.G. Wells' novel, the show began with simulated "breaking news" of an invasion by Martians. Because of the realistic nature of the "news," there was a public outcry the next day, calling for regulation by the FCC. Although the current story is that many were fooled and panicked, in reality very few people were fooled. But the show made Orson Welles' career.

In 1949, in the year of William Alfred Drake's passing, comedian Milton Berle hosted the first telethon show. It raised $1,100,000 for cancer research and lasted 16 hours. The next day, newspapers, in writing about the event, first used the word "telethon."