Sir

Henry Leeke
Born1 September 1792[1][2]
St John's, Isle of Wight
Died26 February 1870(1870-02-26) (aged 77)[3]
Fareham, Hampshire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1803–1864
RankAdmiral
Commands heldHMS Myrmidon
HMS Queen
HMS San Josef
Battles/warsCrimean War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order

Admiral Sir Henry John Leeke, KCB, KH, DL (1 September 1792 – 26 February 1870) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Third Naval Lord, Member of Parliament for Dover and Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.

Career

Leeke was born on the Isle of Wight to Samuel Leeke, a deputy lieutenant of Hampshire, and his wife, Sophia, daughter of Capt. Richard Bargus, R.N. He younger brother was William Leeke, known for his reminiscences of his service as an ensign at the Battle of Waterloo.[4] His godfather was Lord Henry Paulet.

Leeke entered the navy in September 1803 aboard the Royal William, as a first-class volunteer.[5] He steadily rose through the ranks until reaching the rank of commander on 1814.[4] In 1818, while in command of HMS Myrmidon he captured a Portuguese slave-vessel, and freed Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who later became Bishop of Nigeria.[6] He was given command of HMS Queen, in which he served as flag-captain to Admiral Sir John West, in 1845 and of HMS San Josef in 1847 and, having been promoted to rear admiral in 1854, he became Third Naval Lord in 1859.[4] His promotion to vice-admiral came in 1860, and to admiral in 1864.[4]

In 1859, he was elected as Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Dover.[7]

He was knighted in the Royal Guelphic Order in 1836, appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1857, and knighted in that order in 1858.[8]

Family

Leeke married Augusta Sophia (d. 1861), the second daughter of James Dashwood in 1818.[4] They had at least two children. Following Augusta's death, Leeke married (in 1863) Georgiana Lucy Cecilia, only daughter of Revd. Geoffrey Hornby. His eldest and only surviving son, Henry Edward Leeke, died on 2 May 1885, aged 59.[9]

References

  1. ^ England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538–1975
  2. ^ London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813–2003
  3. ^ "The Late Admiral Sir Henry John Leeke, K.C.B., K.H.". Derby Mercury. 9 March 1870. p. 5. Retrieved 17 May 2019. He was born in the year 1792...
  4. ^ a b c d e William Loney RN
  5. ^ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. 28 February 1870. p. 5.
  6. ^ Royal Naval Museum: Sir Henry Leeke
  7. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 113. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  8. ^ Debrett's illustrated baronetage, with the knightage, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. London : Dean & Son. 1869. p. 569. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Death Notices", The Times, 12 May 1885, p. 1, column 1.

External links

Military offices Preceded bySir Alexander Milne Third Naval Lord 1859 Succeeded bySir Charles Eden Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byRalph Bernal OsborneSir William Russell, Bt. Member of Parliament for Dover 1859 – 1865 With: William Nicol Succeeded byAlexander George DicksonCharles Freshfield
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