LEAKE, Sir John, an English admiral, distinguished by his bravery and success, was born in 1656, and was taught mathematics and gunnery by Mr Richard Leake his father, who was master gunner of England. Entering early into the navy, he distinguished himself under his father in 1673, in the memorable engagement between Sir Edward Spragg and Van Tromp, when but 16 years of age; and being afterwards made captain, he signalized himself, among other occasions, by executing the desperate attempt of conveying some victuallers into Londonderry, which obliged the enemy to raise the siege; and at the famous battle of La Hogue. In 1702, being made commodore of a squadron, he destroyed the French trade and settlements at Newfoundland, and restored the English to the possession of the whole island. On his return he was created rear admiral; soon after, he was made vice admiral of the blue, and was afterwards knighted. He was engaged with Admiral Roke in taking Gibraltar: soon after which, he particularly distinguished himself in the general engagement off Malaga; when commanding the leading squadron of the van, consisting only of six ships, he drove that of the enemy, consisting of 13, out of the line of battle, so disabled that they never returned to the fight. In 1705 he relieved Gibraltar, which the French had besieged by sea, and the Spaniards by land, so seasonably, that the enemy was to have attacked the town that very night in several places, and would undoubtedly have made themselves masters of it. Five hundred Spaniards had, by the help of rope ladders, climbed up the rocks by a way that was thought inaccessible. At the same time they had got a great number of boats to land 3000 men at the New Mole, who, by making a vigorous assault on the side next the sea, were to draw the garrison to oppose the attack, while the 500 concealed men rushed into the town. These being the next day drawn by hunger out of their ambuscade, were discovered; on which Sir John assisting the garrison with sailors and marines, they were attacked with such vigour, that, though they had taken an oath not to surrender to the English, 190 common soldiers and 30 officers took quarter: 200 were killed on the spot; and the rest, who endeavoured to make their escape, fell headlong down the rock. He was soon after made vice admiral of the white, and then twice relieved that fortress. The last time, he attacked five ships of the French fleet coming out of the bay, of whom two were taken, and two run ashore and were destroyed: Baron Pohni died soon after, of the wounds he received in the battle; and in a few days the enemy raised the siege.
fiege. In the year 1705 Sir John was engaged in the reduction of Barcelona; and the next year relieved that city, when it was reduced to the last extremity, and obliged King Philip to raise the siege. Soon after he took the city of Carthage; from whence proceeding to Alicante and Joyce, both these submitted to him; and he concluded the exploits of that year with the reduction of the city and island of Majorca. Upon his return home, Prince George of Denmark made him a present of a ring valued at 400l. and he had the honour of receiving 1000l. from the queen as a reward for his services. Upon the unhappy death of Sir Cloudesly Shovel, in 1707, he was made admiral of the white, and commander in chief of her majesty's fleet; and the next year, surprising a convoy of the enemy's corn, he sent it to Barcelona, and thus saved both that city and the confederate army from the danger of famine: soon after conveying the new queen of Spain to King Charles her consort, her majesty made him a present of a diamond ring of 500l. value. He then proceeded to the island of Sardinia, which he reduced to the obedience of King Charles; and soon after assisted the lord Stanhope in the conquest of Minorca. Then returning home, he was appointed one of the council to the lord high admiral; and in 1709 was made rear admiral of Great Britain. He was several times chosen member of parliament for Rochester; and in 1712 conducted the English forces to take possession of Dunkirk. But upon the accession of King George I. he was superseded, and allowed a pension of 600l. a-year. After this he lived privately till his death, which happened at his house in Greenwich in 1720.