Life of Admiral Sir John Leake

Leake (1656-1720) was one of the most prominent flag officers of King William and Queen Anne’ s wars. He played a leading part in the relief of Londonderry in 1689, fought at Bantry Bay, Beachy Head, La Hogue and Malaga, twice relieved Gibraltar, captured Cartagena, Alicante, Ibiza, Majorca, Minorca, and Sardinia, was five times Admiral of the Fleet, and in the end declined to be First Lord of the Admiralty.

This life was written by the admiral’s nephew Stephen Martin-Leake, Garter King of Arms, whose life of his father (Vol 5) was originally appended to it.

This continues his Mediterranean command in Barcelona, Cartagena, Mallorca, Ibiza and proceedings at Alicante. There are then his activities in command of the fleet in the Channel in 1707 and the trial of Sir Thomas Hardy.

In 1713 he was appointed Admiral of the Fleet for the 4th time and was subsequently to be appointed for the 5th time. With death of Queen Anne and the accession of King George ‘Sir John was removed from all his places’. He retired and lived privately until his death in 1720.