John Leake
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Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Leake (4 July 1656 – 21 August 1720)[1] was a Royal Navy officer and politician who represented Rochester in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1715. He served in the Third Anglo-Dutch War as a junior officer, participating in the Battle of Texel. During the Williamite War in Ireland, Leake distinguished himself by leading a convoy which broke the barricading boom at Culmore Fort and lifted the siege of Derry. As a captain he fought in the Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue of the Nine Years' War.

Key Information

In 1702 Leake was appointed as Commander-in-Chief, Newfoundland. Promoted to flag officer in 1704, he served as second-in-command to Admiral George Rooke at the capture of Gibraltar and commanded the Anglo-Dutch vanguard at the Battle of Málaga during the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1705, he led a combined English, Dutch and Portuguese fleet to victory over a French fleet under Baron de Pointis at the Battle of Cabrita Point.

Leake served under Sir Cloudesley Shovell and the Earl of Peterborough at the siege of Barcelona and was present at the capitulation of the city in 1706. A second siege took place between when a Franco-Spanish army led by Philip V of Spain laid siege to Barcelona in an attempt to recapture it. The Franco-Spanish army abandoned the siege when Leake arrived. Leake later captured Sardinia and landed the Earl of Stanhope with forces that took the well-fortified harbour of Port Mahon on Minorca. Leake also served First Lord of the Admiralty from 1710 to 1712.

Early career

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Born the son of Richard Leake, a master gunner, and Elizabeth Leake, Leake joined the Royal Navy in early 1673.[2] He was assigned to the first-rate HMS Royal Prince, flagship of Admiral Sir Edward Spragge, and saw action at the Battle of Texel in August 1673 during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. He left the Royal Navy when the War ended in 1674 and served in merchant vessels but rejoined in 1676 and became master gunner in the second-rate HMS Neptune in 1683. Promoted to commander on 24 September 1688, he was given command of the bomb vessel HMS Firedrake and saw action under Battle of Bantry Bay in May 1689 during the Nine Years' War.[3]

The action at Barfleur, where Leake commanded the third-rate HMS Eagle in some of the heaviest fighting (70 of his men were killed.)

Promoted to captain on 3 May 1689, Leake was given command of the fifth-rate HMS Dartmouth; he distinguished himself when he led the convoy that broke the barricading boom at Culmore Fort thereby lifting the siege of Derry in July 1689 during the Williamite War in Ireland.[3] He transferred to the command of the fourth-rate HMS Oxford in the Mediterranean Fleet in October 1689 and to the command of the third-rate HMS Eagle in May 1690 and saw action in some of the heaviest fighting (70 of his men were killed) at the action at Barfleur in May 1692. Leake also commanded HMS Eagle, by then flagship of Vice-Admiral George Rooke, in a successful attack on the French ships at the Battle of La Hougue later that month.[4] He transferred to the command of the third-rate HMS Plymouth on convoy protection duties in December 1692 and to the command of the second-rate HMS Ossory in the Mediterranean Fleet in July 1693.[5]

Leake was given command of the third-rate HMS Kent on a mission to transport troops to Ireland in May 1699 and then transferred to the command of the third-rate HMS Berwick in January 1701.[6] He took command of the first-rate HMS Britannia, flagship of the Earl of Pembroke, on an expedition to Cádiz in January 1702, and then transferred to the command of the second-rate HMS Association in June 1702.[7]

Promoted to commodore on 24 June 1702, Leake became Commander-in-Chief, Newfoundland, with his broad pennant in the fourth-rate HMS Exeter.[7] He sailed with eight ships with orders to attack the French fishing harbours and their ships at sea at this early stage of the North American theatre of the War of the Spanish Succession. In this expedition 51 enemy ships were taken or destroyed. While in Newfoundland Leake also reported on the failure of the local people to observe legislation prohibiting trade with New England.[8]

Senior command

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The London Gazette's 14 May 1705 issue detailing Leake's return from Gibraltar after the Battle of Cabrita Point
c. 1710 portrait of Leake by Michael Dahl

Promoted to rear admiral on 9 December 1702, Leake became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in January 1703. Promoted to vice admiral in March 1703, he sailed, with his flag in the second-rate HMS Prince George, in a fleet dispatched under Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell to take troops to Lisbon in Spring 1703. Although his ship was caught in the great storm of December 1703, it suffered no serious damage.[9]

Knighted in February 1704, Leake served as Second-in-Command to Admiral George Rooke at the Capture of Gibraltar in August 1704 and he commanded the vanguard in the Battle of Málaga later in the month.[10] In October 1704 Field Marshal Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt sent a message to Leake at Lisbon requesting his urgent assistance after the appearance of French ships in the Bay of Gibraltar. Leake set sail at once, bringing more supplies for the defenders who were caught in what became known as the twelfth siege of Gibraltar.[11] Leake arrived with twenty ships and, in the subsequent naval engagement, three French ships were captured and two others destroyed.[12] With Gibraltar safe for the moment, Leake left for Lisbon in January 1705 with the sick and wounded members of the garrison aboard his ships.[13] He became Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet in later that month and returned to Gibraltar with a combined English, Dutch and Portuguese force of 35 ships and defeated Baron de Pointis at the Battle of Cabrita Point in March 1705.[14] The combined French and Spanish Fleet under Marshal Tessé gave up the siege as hopeless following an order from King Louis XIV of France in April 1705.[15]

Leake served under Sir Cloudesley Shovell and the Earl of Peterborough at the Siege of Barcelona and was present at the capitulation of the city by French and Spanish forces in October 1705. A further siege took place between in April 1706 when a Franco-Spanish army led by Philip V of Spain laid siege to Barcelona in an attempt to recapture it. The Franco-Spanish army abandoned the siege when Leake arrived in May 1706. On the way back, he supported operations to capture Cartagena in May 1706, Alicante in July 1706, Ibiza in September 1706 and Mallorca later that month.[16] Leake was promoted to full admiral, appointed Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet and given authority to fly the flag of an Admiral of the Fleet on 8 January 1708.[2]

Leake was appointed a member of the council of the Lord High Admiral (an office vested at that time in Prince George of Denmark) in June 1708 and elected Member of Parliament for Member of Parliament for Harwich in May 1708 and Member of Parliament for Rochester in July 1708. He could not represent both seats and chose to represent the latter.[1]

Meanwhile, back in the Mediterranean, Leake captured Sardinia in August 1708 and landed the Earl of Stanhope with forces that took the well-fortified harbour of Port Mahon on Minorca in September 1708. He was re-appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for an expedition to the Baltic Sea in December 1708 and, after being appointed Rear-Admiral of Great Britain on 24 May 1709, went on to join the Board of Admiralty led by the Earl of Orford, as Senior Naval Lord,[17] in November 1709.[18] In Parliament he supported the prosecution of Henry Sacheverell in Spring 1710.[1] Later that year he donated a new altarpiece, communion-table, rails and pavement for the chancel at St Mary's Church in Beddington where he owned a country house.[19]

Leake became First Lord of the Admiralty in the Harley Ministry in November 1710, but declined to take a political position in that role, and was re-appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for expeditions in January 1711 (for trade protection in the Channel) and in April 1712[20] (for an attack on Dunkirk).[21] He stood down as First Lord of the Admiralty in September 1712 and reverted to his former role as First Naval Lord on the Admiralty Board.[17] He was re-appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for yet another expedition in March 1713 before resigning from the Admiralty Board in October 1714.[18] Knowing that he would be perceived as a Tory, following his active involvement in the Harley Ministry, he stood down from Parliament immediately prior to the general election in 1715.[1]

Leake died at his town house in Greenwich on 21 August 1720 and was buried at St Dunstan's, Stepney.[22] John Campbell described him as a "virtuous, humane and gallant man, and one of the greatest admirals of his time."[23]

Family

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In around 1681 Leake married Christiane Hill, daughter of Captain Richard Hill; they had one son.[2]

References

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Sources

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Further reading

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John Leake

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Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Leake (4 July 1656 – 21 August 1720) was a distinguished Royal Navy officer and politician renowned for his leadership during major conflicts of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, including the Nine Years' War, the Williamite War in Ireland, and the War of the Spanish Succession. Born in Rotherhithe, London, as the son of master-gunner Richard Leake, he entered the navy at a young age and rose steadily through the ranks, achieving post rank by 1688 and ultimately Admiral of the Fleet in 1708.[1][2][3] Leake's career featured pivotal contributions to key naval operations. He commanded the frigate Dartmouth during the relief of the Siege of Derry in 1689, where he led the convoy that broke the defensive boom across the River Foyle.[1][2] In the War of the Spanish Succession, he participated in the capture of Gibraltar in 1704, fought at the Battle of Málaga in 1704, relieved Barcelona on multiple occasions, and oversaw the successful captures of Sardinia and Minorca in 1708.[1][4][2] Earlier actions included service at the Battle of Bantry Bay (1689), Battle of Barfleur, and Battle of La Hogue (1692). Knighted in February 1704 for his services, he later held high appointments including service as a Lord of the Admiralty from 1709 to 1714 and Rear-Admiral of Great Britain from 1709 to 1714.[1][3] In politics, Leake represented Rochester as a Member of Parliament from 1708 to 1715, where he actively engaged in naval and Admiralty matters. He was also an elder brother of the Trinity House from 1707 and its master from 1709 to 1711. Described as a master of naval theory, gunnery, shipbuilding, and fortification, Leake was widely regarded as one of the foremost admirals of his era. He died in Greenwich in 1720.[1][3]

Early life

Birth and family background

Sir John Leake was born on 4 July 1656 in Rotherhithe, Surrey (now part of London).[1] He was the second but eldest surviving son of Richard Leake, master-gunner of England, of Woolwich, by his wife Elizabeth.[1] His father was a prominent naval warrant officer and expert in gunnery, mathematics, fortification, and engineering, who held the patent for Master-Gunner of England and resided in Woolwich.[1] Leake received early instruction from his father in mathematics and gunnery, reflecting the family's naval-oriented background.[5] He had little formal education in other subjects.[1]

Entry into the Royal Navy

John Leake entered the Royal Navy at a young age, before 1673, and was serving as a midshipman by the time of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. He was aboard the first-rate ship HMS Royal Prince, flagship of Admiral Sir Edward Spragge, during the Battle of Texel on 11 August 1673, serving alongside his father, who was master gunner on the vessel.[2][1] Following the Peace of Westminster in 1674, which ended the war, Leake temporarily left the Royal Navy to join the merchant service, where he commanded a ship on two or three voyages to the Mediterranean.[6] He returned to naval service thereafter and served as a gunner. From 1682 he was mate to the master-gunner of ordnance.[1]

Early career (1673–1692)

Third Anglo-Dutch War and merchant interlude

Leake first saw action in the Third Anglo-Dutch War as a young officer aboard the Royal Prince. In August 1673, at the age of 17, he served during the Battle of Texel alongside his father, Richard Leake, who was master gunner aboard the same ship, and participated in defending the vessel against Dutch attacks. His elder brother Henry was killed in the engagement.[6] Following the Treaty of Westminster in 1674, which ended the war, Leake left the Royal Navy in anticipation of reduced naval employment during peacetime. He entered the merchant service and commanded a ship on two or three voyages in the Mediterranean, engaging in the Levant trade. Although the merchant service offered better pay, Leake found it uncongenial and returned to the Royal Navy around 1676–1677. He later succeeded his father as gunner of the Neptune.[4][6]

Nine Years' War and Battle of Bantry Bay

Leake's service in the Nine Years' War began with his promotion to commander on 24 September 1688, when he took command of the bomb vessel HMS Firedrake.)[3] On 1 May 1689, while commanding Firedrake in Admiral Arthur Herbert's fleet, he participated in the Battle of Bantry Bay against a French force.)[7] Leake distinguished himself by using a "cushee-piece"—an incendiary device invented by his father—to set fire to the French 54-gun ship Diamant, blowing up her poop, causing numerous casualties, and severely wounding her captain, the Chevalier Coetlogon, though the French vessel was eventually saved.) Herbert, impressed by Leake's conduct, promoted him to captain two days later on 3 May 1689 and appointed him to command the 40-gun frigate HMS Dartmouth.)[3] Leake subsequently commanded Dartmouth in operations including the relief of the Siege of Derry later that year.)

Relief of the Siege of Derry

In the summer of 1689, during the Williamite War in Ireland, the city of Derry (Londonderry) endured a prolonged siege by Jacobite forces, facing starvation after more than three months of blockade. A Williamite relief fleet under Major-General Percy Kirke had arrived in Lough Foyle but faced formidable obstacles, including a heavy boom stretched across the River Foyle near Culmore Fort and strong enemy batteries guarding the narrow passage. Captain John Leake, commanding the frigate HMS Dartmouth, was assigned the critical task of protecting three provision ships—the Mountjoy, Phoenix, and Jerusalem—in a final attempt to break through and deliver supplies.[8] On 28 July 1689, taking advantage of a favorable tide and wind shift, the expedition advanced. Leake maneuvered Dartmouth to engage Culmore Fort directly, positioning his ship within musket-shot between the fort and the approaching victuallers. According to a contemporary account in the London Gazette, Leake "behaved himself very bravely and prudently in this action, neither firing great nor small shot, though he was plied very hard with both, till he came on the wind of the castle, and there beginning to batter, that the victuallers might pass under shelter of his guns, he lay between the castle and them within musket-shot, and came to an anchor." This disciplined bombardment suppressed the Jacobite guns at Culmore, enabling the Mountjoy and Phoenix to pass safely and reach the boom.[8] With Dartmouth providing covering fire, the Mountjoy (commanded by Micaiah Browning) rammed the boom, initially rebounding and grounding briefly under heavy enemy fire from both riverbanks. Supported by the Swallow's longboat crew, who hacked at the chains and timbers, the Mountjoy made a second attempt and succeeded in shattering the barrier. The broken sections floated downstream, opening the river. The provision ships then proceeded to Derry's quay, unloading essential supplies such as meal, beef, and biscuits, which relieved the starving garrison and inhabitants.[9][8] Leake's tactical command of Dartmouth proved decisive in suppressing the shore batteries and shielding the supply vessels, ensuring the operation's success. The relief ended the 105-day siege, forcing the Jacobite forces to abandon their positions and retreat. Casualties were light among the relief force, though Browning was fatally wounded during the boom-breaking. This action marked a key Williamite victory and highlighted Leake's emerging reputation for resolute naval leadership.[9]

Senior command during the War of the Spanish Succession

Newfoundland command and early promotions

In June 1702, following the declaration of war in the War of the Spanish Succession, John Leake was appointed commodore and Commander-in-Chief of the Newfoundland convoy and station, receiving his commission on 24 June 1702. He hoisted his broad pennant aboard the Exeter, a fourth-rate ship of 60 guns, and departed Plymouth on 22 July 1702 with instructions to protect British trade, gather intelligence on French forces, attack enemy fishing harbors and vessels, and assist local fishing admirals.[5][10] Arriving in Newfoundland in late August, Leake led a vigorous campaign against French settlements and shipping. His forces captured or destroyed fishing stages, boats, and infrastructure at locations including Bay Bulls, Trepassey, St. Mary's, and other harbors, while his squadron engaged enemy vessels at sea. The expedition proved highly successful, resulting in the capture or destruction of 51 French ships (29 taken as prizes totaling 3,235 tons and 207 guns, with 22 others burnt along with their cargoes) and the severe disruption of French fishing operations by early October.[5][10] Leake returned to England, arriving at Spithead on 10 November 1702. In recognition of the expedition's achievements, he was promoted to rear-admiral of the blue on 9 December 1702. This marked his elevation to flag rank and the beginning of his senior command roles in the ongoing war.[5])

Capture of Gibraltar and Battle of Málaga

In 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Vice-Admiral Sir John Leake served in the Mediterranean under Admiral Sir George Rooke. He participated in the capture of Gibraltar, where an Anglo-Dutch fleet bombarded the fortress and landed marines, compelling the Spanish garrison to surrender on 4 August. Leake, flying his flag in HMS Prince George as Vice-Admiral of the Blue, contributed to these operations as a senior flag officer.[3] Shortly thereafter, on 13 August 1704, Leake participated in the Battle of Málaga (also known as Vélez-Málaga) aboard HMS Prince George. As Vice-Admiral of the Blue, he brought his squadron into close action against elements of the French fleet under the overall command of the Comte de Toulouse, helping to sustain the general engagement between the opposing fleets.[3] The battle proved tactically inconclusive, with no ships lost on either side despite heavy fighting, but the French fleet withdrew to Toulon after nightfall, allowing the allies to claim a strategic success. This outcome helped secure the recent capture of Gibraltar from immediate counterattack. Leake had been knighted earlier in February 1704.[3][1]

Battle of Cabrita Point and Barcelona operations

In early 1705, Vice-Admiral Sir John Leake commanded a combined Anglo-Dutch-Portuguese fleet that relieved the ongoing Franco-Spanish siege of Gibraltar. Arriving in Gibraltar Bay around 20 March 1705, Leake's squadron engaged a French force under Baron de Pointis near Cabrita Point (also known as the Battle of Marbella). The action resulted in the capture or destruction of five French ships of the line, securing Gibraltar and ending significant enemy threats to the newly captured base.[7][11] Later in 1705, Leake joined the fleet under Sir Clowdisley Shovell and the Earl of Peterborough in operations that culminated in the allied capture of Barcelona in October. After Shovell returned to England, Leake assumed command in the Mediterranean.) In 1706, Leake played a decisive role in relieving Barcelona during its siege by Franco-Spanish forces. Receiving urgent appeals from Archduke Charles (the Habsburg claimant to the Spanish throne), Leake sailed with a large allied fleet and arrived off Barcelona at daybreak on 27 April 1706. His approach prompted the French fleet under the Comte de Toulouse to withdraw the previous day, allowing the landing of reinforcements and forcing the besieging army to abandon the siege by 30 April. This relief secured the city for the allies.)[12] Following the relief, Leake's fleet supported further allied gains in the region. Towards the end of May 1706, Cartagena submitted to allied forces. In cooperation with land troops, Leake's squadron contributed to the storming and capture of Alicante in July and August, with its citadel reduced thereafter. Ibiza and Majorca surrendered in September, consolidating allied control in the western Mediterranean before Leake returned to England in October.)

Captures of Sardinia and Minorca

Following the death of Admiral Cloudesley Shovell in October 1707, Leake was promoted to Admiral of the White and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the fleet on 8 January 1708.[4] This elevation enabled him to return to the Mediterranean with authority to lead major operations against Spanish-held territories.[5] In August 1708, Leake commanded the naval forces that secured the surrender of Sardinia, reducing the island and capturing it for the allies. This acquisition provided a critical granary to supply grain to the allied armies supporting Archduke Charles in Spain.[5][2] Leake then directed operations against Minorca in September 1708. He established a blockade that isolated the island and severed its communications, compelling the inhabitants to face severe shortages. Landing troops under General James Stanhope, Leake's fleet supported the assault on Port Mahon, which surrendered after bombardment and investment. The principal fortress of St. Philip, garrisoned by Spanish forces, held out longer but ultimately capitulated due to hunger after sustained pressure from combined naval and land forces.[5] The capture of Minorca yielded a strategic deep-water harbor at Port Mahon, enhancing British naval dominance in the western Mediterranean and providing a secure base for future operations.[2][7]

Political career

Member of Parliament

Sir John Leake entered Parliament as Member for Rochester following a by-election on 3 January 1708, after the death of Admiral Sir Clowdesley Shovell, securing the seat through the borough's strong naval interest.[1] In the general election of May 1708, while absent in the Mediterranean on naval duties, Leake was also returned for Harwich, receiving 29 votes against Thomas Frankland's 26 and Sir Thomas Davall's 8 (with the result favoring Leake and Frankland through a coalition of interests).[13] Upon his return to England, he chose to sit for Rochester rather than Harwich, leading to a by-election in Harwich in December 1708.[1] Leake's preference for Rochester aligned with his established naval reputation and the constituency's reliance on maritime influence, while his interest in Harwich drew on familial connections, including his father's birthplace there, and support from mariners and naval personnel.[1] He was re-elected for Rochester without difficulty in the general elections of 1710 and 1713, continuing to represent the borough until 1715.[1]

First Lord of the Admiralty and Admiralty Board

Sir John Leake was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty in November 1709, serving continuously on the Board until 14 October 1714.[1] He held the position of Senior Naval Lord from October 1710 to September 1712, and again in a naval capacity from September 1712 onward.[7] Following the change of administration in September 1710, Leake was named first in the new Admiralty commission and is recorded in several sources as serving as First Lord of the Admiralty from October 1710 to September 1712.[3] Although some accounts note that he declined to act fully in the ceremonial or titular aspects of First Lord while consenting to perform the duties, his role placed him at the head of naval administration during this period.[1] As a senior member of the Board, Leake acted as the Admiralty's principal spokesman in Parliament, frequently presenting reports on fleet deployments, convoys, and naval expenditures to the House of Commons.[1] His tenure encompassed the final years of the War of the Spanish Succession, during which he balanced Board responsibilities with occasional sea service. In September 1712, under a new commission headed by the Earl of Strafford as First Lord, Leake was recommissioned as a Naval Lord.[7] His service on the Board ended in October 1714 following the accession of George I and the return of Whig dominance under Lord Orford, which made his continued role untenable due to his prior Tory associations.[1]

Later life, honors, and death

Knighthood and final ranks

Leake was knighted in February 1704, becoming Sir John Leake in recognition of his naval services.[1] He advanced to the rank of admiral in January 1708, and in December of that year he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet, assuming flag authority in that capacity.[1] In May 1709, he received appointment as Rear-Admiral of Great Britain, an honorary position he held until 1714.[2]

Death and burial

Sir John Leake died on 21 August 1720 at his home near Greenwich, London.) He was buried on 30 August 1720 at St Dunstan's Church, Stepney, London, beneath a fine marble altar tomb surrounded by railings.[14] The tomb's inscription records his age at death as 64 years, 1 month, and 17 days.[1]

Family and personal life

Marriage and children

Sir John Leake married Christian, daughter and coheir of Captain Richard Hills of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, before 1677.[1] Christian died in 1709.[1] The couple had two sons and four daughters, all of whom predeceased Leake.[1] His only child to reach adulthood was Captain Richard Leake of the Royal Navy, who died in March 1720, a few months before his father.[1] With no surviving children, Leake's heir was Stephen Martin Leake, the son of his former flag-captain and brother-in-law Captain Stephen Martin.[1][15]

Personal contributions and character

Sir John Leake was remembered for his generosity in personal and charitable acts. In 1710, while residing at Beddington House in Surrey, he donated to St Mary's Church, Beddington, an altarpiece of wainscot ornamented with figures of Moses and Aaron in stone color, accompanied by tables of the Decalogue and Creed, as well as a wooden balustrade for the communion rails.[16] Contemporary and family accounts praised his personal character highly. His nephew and biographer, Stephen Martin Leake, described him as "a virtuous, humane, generous, and gallant man.") Local historical records from Beddington further noted that he was generally esteemed for his open, generous, and humane disposition, receiving visitors without distinction of party during his time at Beddington House.[16]

Legacy

Historical reputation

Sir John Leake has long been regarded by historians as one of the most capable and admirable naval commanders of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, whose service contributed significantly to British naval successes during key conflicts of the period.[1][10] He has been described as "a virtuous, humane and gallant man, and one of the greatest admirals of his time."[10] A naval historian characterized him as "the best all-round sailor of his age," while his relative Stephen Martin Leake praised him as "certainly one of the best seamen this island has produced," noting his mastery of both theory and practice in naval matters, including ship-building, gunnery, fortification, and related disciplines.[1] Admiral Edward Russell vouched for his "knowledge in the art of gunnery, courage and fidelity."[1] Contemporary accounts also distinguished him as "The Brave and Fortunate."[17] His reputation as a naval hero was firmly established during his lifetime, reflected in honors such as gifts from Prince George and his appointment as admiral of the fleet.[1]

Commemoration

Sir John Leake's primary physical commemoration is his elaborate altar tomb in the churchyard of St Dunstan's, Stepney, where he was buried on 30 August 1720 after his death in Greenwich nine days earlier. The monument consists of a fine altar tomb constructed mainly of marble and enclosed by iron railings.[14] The tomb features an extensive epitaph that recounts his principal naval achievements and serves as a lasting tribute to his career. The inscription describes him as Rear Admiral of Great Britain, Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of Queen Anne's fleet, and one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, noting his death on 21 August 1720 at age 64 years, 1 month, and 17 days. It highlights his role in 1689 aboard the Dartmouth in relieving the Siege of Derry by engaging Kilmore Castle; his 1702 squadron action at Newfoundland destroying 51 French sail and their settlements; his 1704 command forcing the French van at the Battle of Málaga, twice relieving Gibraltar, and burning or taking 13 French men-of-war; and his 1706 relief of Barcelona, capture of 90 corn ships, and conquests of Cartagena, Alicante, Ivica, Majorca, Sardinia, and Minorca.[18] The monument also commemorates family members, including his wife Dame Christian Leake (died 1709), her mother Mary Hills (died 1703), and others interred in the family vault.[14]
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