Henry John Leeke

Sir Henry Leeke
Born 1794
St John's, Isle of Wight
Died 26 February 1870
Fareham, Hampshire
Allegiance United Kingdom 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

Admiral Sir Henry John Leeke KCB KH DL (1794 – 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's father was Samuel Leeke, a deputy lieutenant of Hampshire, and his brother was William Leeke, known for his reminiscences of his service as an ensign at the Battle of Waterloo.[1] His godfather was Lord Henry Paulet.

Leeke entered the navy in 1803, steadily rising through the ranks until reaching the rank of commander on 1814.[1] 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.[2] He was given command of HMS Queen, in which he served as flag-captain in 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.[1] His promotion to vice-admiral came in 1860, and to admiral in 1864.[1]

In 1859, he was elected as Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Dover.[3]

Family

Leeke married Augusta Sophia (d. 1861), the second daughter of James Dashwood in 1818.[1] 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.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 William Loney RN
  2. Royal Naval Museum: Sir Henry Leeke
  3. 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.
  4. "Death Notices", The Times, 12 May 1885, p. 1, column 1.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Alexander Milne
Third Naval Lord
1859
Succeeded by
Sir Charles Eden
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ralph Bernal Osborne
Sir William Russell, Bt.
Member of Parliament for Dover
18591865
With: William Nicol
Succeeded by
Alexander George Dickson
Charles Freshfield
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