Richard, was born at Harwich in 1629, and was bred a sailor. In the first Dutch war, being gunner of the Princess, a frigate of 50 guns, he signalized himself by his bravery in two extraordinary engagements. Having been promoted to the gunnership of the Royal Prince, a first-rate man-of-war, he was engaged in the sea-fight against Van Tromp in 1673, and by his valour and presence of mind, saved his vessel from being destroyed by two fire-ships. For his services, he was soon afterwards made gunner of Whitehall, and in 1677 obtained a life-grant of the office of master gunner of England, and store-keeper of the ordnance at Woolwich. He died in 1696.

Leake, Sir John, an English admiral, son of the preceding, was born in 1656 at Rotherhithe, in Surrey. Having early entered the navy, he distinguished himself under his father in 1673 in the engagement between Sir Edward Spragg and Van Tromp; and being afterwards appointed captain, he signalized himself by executing the desperate attempt of conveying some victuallers into Londonderry, and thus obliging the enemy to raise the siege. In 1702, being made commodore of a squadron, he destroyed the French 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. In 1705 he relieved Gibraltar from its siege by the French ships and the Spanish land forces, when it was on the eve of being captured by 500 Spaniards who had climbed up the rock. He was soon afterwards made vice-admiral of the white, and again relieved the same fortress, by destroying the French squadron. In 1706 Sir John relieved Barcelona, when it was reduced to the last extremity, obliging King Philip to raise the siege. Soon afterwards he took the city of Cartagena, received the submission of Alicante and Joyca, and reduced the city and island of Majorca. Upon his return home he received, in reward of his services, a ring, valued at L300, from Prince George of Denmark, and L1,000 from the queen. Upon the unhappy death of Sir Clondeglass 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 reduced the island of Sardinia to the obedience of King Charles; and soon afterwards assisted Lord Stanhope in the conquest of Minorca. 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. On the accession of King George I. he was superseded, and allowed a pension of L600 a-year. After this he lived privately till his death, which happened at his house in Greenwich in 1720.