Admiral Sir Henry John Leeke, KCB, KH, DL (1792 – 1870) Roya...

Hammer

£30

Admiral Sir Henry John Leeke, KCB, KH, DL (1792 – 1870) Royal Navy officer, Third Naval Lord, Member of Parliament for Dover and Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire. An interesting ALS offering instruction to Edward Fosse on everything needed for a boy to join the Navy, and further instructing him to write to Dr Burney at the Gosport Naval School. 4pp, 7” x 4 ½”, 26th July 1861. Admiral Sir Henry Leeke was born on the Isle of Wight to Samuel Leeke, a deputy lieutenant of Hampshire, and Sophia Leeke, daughter of Capt. Richard Bargus, R.N. His younger brother, William Leeke, gained renown for his reminiscences of serving as an ensign at the Battle of Waterloo. Leeke's godfather was Lord Henry Paulet. Leeke commenced his naval career in September 1803 aboard the Royal William as a first-class volunteer. He ascended through the ranks, achieving the status of commander in 1814. His service included commanding HMS Myrmidon, during which he captured a Portuguese slave vessel and freed Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who later became Bishop of Nigeria. Leeke served as flag-captain to Admiral Sir John West aboard HMS Queen in 1845 and later commanded HMS San Josef in 1847. Promoted to rear admiral in 1854, Leeke assumed the role of Third Naval Lord in 1859. Leeke's political endeavours saw him elected as a Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Dover in 1859.