LEAKE, Sir John, an English admiral, distinguished by his bravery and success, was born in 1656, and taught mathematics and gunnery by Mr Richard Leake, his father, master gunner of England. Having early entered into the navy, he distinguished himself under his father in 1673, in the memorable engagement between Sir Edward Spragg and Van Tromp, when only sixteen years of age; and being afterwards appointed captain, he signalized himself on various occasions, particularly by executing the desperate attempt of conveying some victuallers into London-derry, which obliged the enemy to raise the siege, and also 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 to the English the possession of the whole island. On his return he was created rear-admiral; and soon afterwards he was made vice-admiral of the blue, and knighted. He was engaged with Admiral Rooke in taking Gibraltar; 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 thirteen, 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 which was thought inaccessible; and at the same time they had got a great number of boats, to land, at the New Mole, three thousand men, who, by making a vigorous assault on the side next the sea, were to draw the garrison to oppose the attack, whilst the five hundred men concealed rushed into the town. The latter being the next day forced by hunger to quit their ambuscade, were discovered; upon 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, a hundred and ninety common soldiers and thirty-five officers accepted quarter, two hundred were killed on the spot, and the rest who endeavoured to make their escape fell headlong down the rock. He was soon afterwards made vice-admiral of the white, and then twice relieved the same fortress. The last time, he attacked five ships of the French fleet coming out of the bay, of which two were taken, and two driven ashore and destroyed. Baron Pointi died soon afterwards of the wounds he received in the battle; and in a few days the enemy raised the siege. In the year 1706, Sir John engaged in the reduction of Barcelona, and next year relieved that city when it was reduced to the last extremity, obliging King Philip to raise the siege. Soon afterwards he took the city of Carthage, whence he proceeded to Alicante and Joyce, which both 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 L.400, and he had the honour of receiving L.1000 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, having surprised 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. He then proceeded to the island of Sardinia, which he reduced to the obedience of King Charles; and soon afterwards assisted Lord Stanhope in the conquest of Minorca. On his return home, he was appointed one of the council to the lord high admiral; and in 1709 he 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 L.600 a year. After this he lived privately till his death, which happened at his house in Greenwich in 1720.