# Captain Drake Bampfylde — The Maid of Sker character guide

> Captain Drake Bampfylde in The Maid of Sker by R. D. Blackmore.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Drake, Captain Drake, young Drake, Drake Bampfylde, Commodore Sir Drake Bampfylde

**First appearance:** 0001-the-maid-of-sker

## Snapshot

A young naval captain who returns from a successful cruise with prizes, prisoners, and a talent for turning landlubbers into seamen.

## Who they are

Drake Bampfylde commands the seventy-four-gun Bellona, where he dines his officers on Christmas Day and runs a tight, cheerful ship. He is decisive but open to counsel, asking Davy's opinion only after settling his own, and he handles a cargo of awkward landsmen with salt-water cures and grim humor. His return from sea promises both prize-money and complications for the shore-bound world of Sker.

## In the story

### [XXXI: Two Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xxxi-two-lovers)

Meets Isabel secretly at Narnton Court, lands a chest, and is warned by her about a dangerous man.

### [Waiting and Learning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xxxiv-waiting-and-learning)

Suspected of murdering two children; Davy believes him innocent.

### [Under Fairer Auspices](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xxxvi-under-fairer-auspices)

Referred to as Miss Carey's sweetheart and the ward of Sir Philip.

### [Two Poor Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xxxvii-two-poor-children)

Younger son of Sir Philip, cursed with bad luck from childhood; accidentally killed a schoolboy in a fight, suffered multiple naval misfortunes including shark bite, powder disfigurement, and shipwreck.

### [XLI: The Right Man in the Right Place](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xli-the-right-man-in-the-right-place)

Captain of the Alcestis; favors the carronade and is a target of Parson Chowne's plots.

### [XLV: Introduces a Real Hero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xlv-introduces-a-real-hero)

Captain of the Alcestis, compared unfavorably to Nelson by Davy, but later respected.

### [Mischief in a Household](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xlvii-mischief-in-a-household)

Referred to as the Captain, he is the subject of the warrant and the focus of Sir Philip's hopes for restored honor.

### [Taming of the Savages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/liv-taming-of-the-savages)

Captain Bampfylde shows strange interest in the savages and refuses to flog them without cause, preferring a more measured approach.

### [LV: Upon Foreign Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/lv-upon-foreign-service)

Secretly marries Isabel Carey before the Defence sails; works hard on the ship.

### [Exiles of Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/lvi-exiles-of-society)

Commands the ship; rigs gratings to prevent grumbling; allows Davy to escort the cannibals home.

### [LXIV: Susan Quite Acquits Herself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/lxiv-susan-quite-acquits-herself)

Accused of orchestrating the children's disappearance for inheritance and marriage motives; seven reasons are given against him.

### [Dog Eats Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/lxvii-dog-eats-dog)

Mentioned as having landed a chest of plate and linen, not an arm-chest, contrary to Chowne's slander.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/characters/drake_bampfylde
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/characters