William Franklin Draper

Place: Hopedale

Born: 1912

Death: 2003

Biography:

William Franklin Draper (December 24, 1912 – October 26, 2003) was an American painter and a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. Draper was born in Hopedale, Massachusetts, on December 24, 1912. His father was Clare H. Draper, son of General William Franklin Draper, who served in the Civil War and later as Ambassador to Italy. Draper entered the Naval Reserves as a lieutenant (junior grade) in 1942. After his initial training, he was assigned to the Anti-submarine warfare Unit in Boston. Following his service in Boston, he transferred into the Naval Air Transport Service and served as a combat artist in the Pacific Theater. After his military service, Draper started a family and moved from Washington to New York City, in a house that belonged to sculptor Daniel Chester French. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art hold examples of his work. Draper died in New York City on October 26, 2003.