George Leake (merchant)

George Leake (1786–1849) was a wealthy landholder in the early days of the Swan River Colony. Backed with considerable assets, Leake supported many of the early settlers of the colony who were struggling financially.

George Leake
Born	1786
Died	1849
Nationality	British
Occupation	Banker
Spouse(s)	Anne (Growse) Leake
Children	Ann Elizabeth Leake
Parent(s)	Luke Leake Ann Heading

Biography

Early life

George Leake was born in 1786 in London, England.[1] His father was Luke Leake, and his mother, Ann (née Heading, 1758–1836). He arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia in the Calista in August 1829 and quickly established himself as a merchant.

Career

He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Bank of Western Australia which was established in June 1837, becoming its first chairman of directors. In 1839, he was one of four unofficial nominees of the Western Australian Legislative Council, retaining his seat until his death. He was appointed magistrate in 1839 and was made chairman of the Perth Town Trust (later to become Perth City Council).

Personal life

He married Anne Growse, who died in 1815 leaving him with one daughter, Ann Elizabeth.

His nephew, George Walpole Leake, was a prominent Western Australian barrister and magistrate and father[2] of George Leake, Premier of Western Australia from 1901 to 1902.

Death

He died in 1849 in Perth, Western Australia.

See also

• Members of the Western Australian Legislative Council, 1832–1870
• Leake family tree

Notes

1. Some sources say 1785
2. "Family Notices". The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News. 8 (463). Western Australia. 5 December 1856. p. 3. Retrieved 11 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.

References

• M. Medcalf, 'Leake, George (1786 - 1849)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, Melbourne University Press, 1967, pp 99–100.
• Dictionary of Australian Biography entry of his grandson, George Leake (Premier)

Further reading

• Chapman, Jenny.(1965) Perserverando : the Leake family in the political, economic and social life of W.A., 1829-1902, with particular reference to George Leake (1786-1849), Sir Luke Samuel Leake (1828-1886), and George Leake (1856-1902) held in Battye Library.