Born on June 22, 1766, in Charleston, Province of South Carolina, British America, to William Henry Drayton and Dorothy Golightly, Drayton read law in 1788 at the Inner Temple in London, England.

He engaged in private practice in Charleston, South Carolina in 1788, from 1789 to 1794, from 1796 to 1798, and from 1811 to 1812.

[2] Drayton was nominated by President James Madison on May 4, 1812, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina vacated by Judge Thomas Bee.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 7, 1812, and received his commission the same day.

[1] Drayton issued perhaps the earliest judicial decision holding that, under the laws of the United States, slaves captured in time of war on enemy ships could not be claimed as property.