John Leake

Sir John Leake (Rotherhithe, July 4, 1656 - Greenwich, August 21, 1720) was one of the most prominent English admirals of his time.

He was the second son of Richard Leake, Master Gunner of England. He married Christiane Hill, daughter of Captain Richard Hill.

Whilst a captain he distinguished himself in several engagements, especially on July 28, 1689, when he led the convoy that broke the barricading boom at Culmore Fort, thus lifting the Siege of Derry.

During the War of the Grand Alliance, he fought at Bantry Bay (1689), Beachy Head (1690) and La Hogue (1692).

Soon after the War of the Spanish Succession was declared, Leake was appointed captain of the "Exeter" and sailed from Plymouth, July 22 1702, with eight ships to Newfoundland, to attack the French fishing harbours and their ships at sea. In this expedition 51 ships were taken or destroyed. Of these, 16 were brought to England, 6 were sent to Lisbon, 5 were sold at St. John's, one was left there for the security of the harbour, and one other sent to France with the prisoners. The remaining 22 were burnt. He also had destroyed all French settlements at Newfoundland.

Upon his return to England, Leake was made Rear-Admiral and offered a knighthood, which he declined. The following March he was promoted to Vice-Admiral.

In 1704 he was sent to the Mediterranean and took part in the assault and capture of Gibraltar under Admiral George Rooke. The next month he helped to repel a French counterattack, commanding the vanguard on the "Prince George" in the Battle of Vélez-Málaga.

The next year, on March 21 1705, he repelled a second attack on Gibraltar, beating Pointis in the Battle of Cabrita point. The French and Spanish under Marshal Tessé gave up the siege after this defeat.

In 1706 the French tried to retake Barcelona, which had been taken by Sir Clowdisley Shovell and the Earl of Peterborough in September 1705. Shovell had returned to England, and Sir John Leake, who was left with a squadron in the Mediterranean, sailed to Barcelona and lifted the siege on May 22. On the way back, he bombarded and captured Cartagena and Alicante.

He was made full Admiral in 1707 and he took Sardinia on August 15 1708. On 29 September he landed Stanhope with forces from Barcelona who took the well-fortified harbor of Port Mahon on Menorca. This gave the allies a permanent all season base to dominate the Mediterranean, a strategic success of the first order.

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochester from 1708 to 1715. He was made first lord of the Admiralty in 1710. On the accession of George I of England, he fell from favour and retired into private life.

John Leake died in 1720 and is buried at Stepney church. He has been described as a “virtuous, humane and gallant man, and one of the greatest admirals of his time.”

Sources

*Publications of the Navy Records Society 1893 – 2006 (Volumes 52 & 53, The Life of Sir John Leake, Vols. I & II, ed. Geoffrey Callender)

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=902 Biography at "the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
* [http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=35024 The Newfoundland expedition]
* [http://www.cichw.net/pmbaalic1.html Bombardment of Alicante]