1930 – 2022

Frank Drake

American astronomer and astrophysicist (1930–2022)

astrophysicistuniversity teacherastronomer

Born

1930-05-28, Chicago

Died

2022-09-02

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Frank Donald Drake was an American astrophysicist and astrobiologist.

Occupation

Frank Drake is recorded as a astrophysicist, a university teacher and a astronomer, born in Illinois (1930–2022).

Connections to Illinois

Frank Drake was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1930. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

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Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

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Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Frank Drake

Who was Frank Drake?

Frank Drake was American astronomer and astrophysicist (1930–2022), born in Illinois (1930 – 2022).

When and where was Frank Drake born?

Frank Drake was born on 1930-05-28 in Chicago.

When did Frank Drake die?

Frank died on 2022-09-02.

What was Frank Drake known for?

Frank Drake is recorded as a astrophysicist, a university teacher and a astronomer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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