Samuel Gardner Drake was born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, the son of farmers. In 1805, his father sold his farm and opened a store in Northwood, New Hampshire. In 1818 he became a school teacher. In 1828 he moved to Boston to open the first antiquarian bookstore in the United States. He also studied and wrote about early United States history. In 1847, he was one of the founders of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and for many years he was the editor of its quarterly Register. He lived in London for two years late in his life. He died of pneumonia in Boston.