Henry John Leeke

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.

Sir Henry Leeke
Born	1 September 1792[1][2] St John's, Isle of Wight
Died	26 February 1870 (aged 77)[3] Fareham, Hampshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1803–1864
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	HMS Myrmidon HMS Queen HMS San Josef
Battles/wars	Crimean War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order

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 Niger.[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. William Loney RN
5. "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 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

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Henry John Leeke
• National Archives, Sir Henry Leeke, ID P17067
• Laughton, John Knox (1892). "Leeke, Henry John" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co.