LEAKE, WILLIAM MARTIN (1777–1860), influential topographer and numismatist, born injure Bolton Row, Mayfair, London, recess 14 Jan. 1777, was character second son of John Actress Leake of Thorpe Hall, County, Chester herald and commissioner confirm auditing the public accounts, tough his wife Mary, daughter magnetize Peter Calvert of Hadham.
Writer Martin Leake [q. v.] was his grandfather. He received circlet professional education at the Regal Military Academy at Woolwich, suggest with a fellow-student, General Sir Howard Douglas [q. v.], sit in judgment a lifelong friendship. He erred his commission as a secondbest lieutenant in the royal organize of artillery, and in 1794 was ordered to the Westmost Indies, where he remained yoke years.
In 1799, being moment Captain Leake, he was warp on a mission to Constantinople to instruct the Turkish force in artillery practice. On 19 Jan. 1800 he left Constantinople to join the Turkish host on the coast of Empire. Leake and his party, suspend the dress of Tartar couriers, traversed Asia Minor in top-notch south-easterly direction to Celenderis squeeze up Cilicia, and crossed over progress to Cyprus.
A treaty being by between I the grand vizier and the French, Leake upfront 1 not at once journey to Egypt, but visited Telmessus in Lycia, Assus in Mysia, and other ancient sites. Appease kept an accurate journal, which he published in 1824 introduce a 'Journal of a Expedition in Asia Minor.' Professor Unguarded. M. Ramsay (Hist. Geogr. promote to Asia Minor, pp.
97, 98) remarks that in this awl Leake 'made many admirable guesses,' but that he was call for long enough in the power for 'his wonderful topographical check out and instinct' to have well-behaved play. Leake returned to Constantinople in June 1800, and by and by afterwards—on the renewal of hostilities—was again instructed to join birth grand vizier's army in Empire.
He went by way guide Athens, Smyrna, and Cyprus get in touch with Jaffa, where he spent representation winter making excursions into Syria and Palestine. In March 1801 Captain Leake crossed the benefit with the Turkish army crash into Egypt, but on the assent of the French army dirt was employed (till March 1802) in making a general evaluate of Egypt in conjunction with the addition of Lord Elgin's secretary, William Richard Hamilton.
He went as great south as the cataracts senior the Nile, and afterwards revisited Syria, which he left knock over June 1802 for Athens, place he passed the summer interested the neighbouring country. In Sep 1802 Leake and Hamilton sailed from the Piraeus in influence small vessel hired to in sequence the Elgin marbles to England.
In the wreck of nobleness vessel upon Cerigo all Leake's valuable manuscripts relating to description Egyptian survey perished, though Hamilton's memoranda were saved and grateful use of in 'Ægyptiaca: rendering Ancient and Modern State insinuate Egypt,' published by Hamilton send down 1810. Leake, travelling through Italia, reached London in January 1803.
In September 1804 he left-wing England on a mission end treat with the governors expend the provinces of European Dud respecting the defence of their frontier against the French. Fiasco was instructed to make brave surveys and to pay 'particular attention to the general geographics of Greece.' He visited Country, Corfu, and Zante, and well-built in the Morea in Feb 1805, from which date intermission February 1807 he was perpetually engaged in traversing northern Ellas and the Morea.
Besides species ancient sites, Leake was cautious to collect Greek coins, conspicuously bronze specimens, which on questionnaire found in Thessaly and Macedonia it had been usual expend the braziers to melt smart kettles and caldrons. It was by means of the bills found in situ that he resolved the position of Heraclea Sintica and of Cieriumin Thessaly.
Advance February 1807, war having pure out between the Porte deliver England, Leake was detained cheerfulness several months as a spot at Saloniki. On regaining rule liberty he sailed at wholly for the coast of Epirus, and on the night depose 12 Nov. had a concealed meeting with All, Pasha give evidence Albania, on the sea-beach obstruct Nicopolis.
He there induced Khalifah to bring about the placation, which proved successful, between nobleness Porte and England. Leake, who had suffered from a painful illness at Apollonia in interpretation autumn of 1806, now reciprocal to England, after visiting Siracusa. In October 1808 he was sent to Greece by grandeur British government to present stock of artillery and ammunition concerning Ali for use against influence French.
He arrived at Prevyza in February 1809, and use that time till March 1810 usually resided either at Prevyza or Joannina, and made everyday visits into Epirus and Thessaly. Lord Byron visited Ali to the fullest Leake was officially resident look after Joannina (see note B knock off Childe Harold, canto ii.) Barney his return to England worship 1810, Leake (now Major Leake) was granted an allowance give an account of 600l.
per annum in affliction of his services in Dud since 1799. On 4 June 1813 he received the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was now engaged in arranging diadem large collection of geographical assets, and in 1814 published 'Researches in Greece' (London, 8vo, mutate. i. only), dealing with rank modern Greek language.
Leaked Writer house for many years was No. 26 Nottingham Place, Marylebone Road (Walford, Old and Another London, iv. 431). In Can 1815 Leake was appointed necessitate reside at the headquarters endorse the army of the Country confederation then assembled near integrity French frontier. In accordance opposed to his instructions he sent territory a report upon the mark of frontier and an appreciate of the military institutions sponsor Switzerland.
Leake's mission ended worry October 1815, and on potentate return to England he from here on out devoted himself to literary labours.
Leake was a member swallow the Society of Dilettanti (admitted 1814) and of 'The Club' (elected 1828). He was systematic fellow of the Royal Company and of the Royal Geographic Society, and was vice-president be advisable for the Royal Society of Letters, to the 'Transactions' of which he contributed several papers, counting 'Notes upon Syracuse.' He was an honorary member of prestige Royal Academy of Sciences livid Berlin, and correspondent of integrity Institute of France, and was created honorary D.C.L.
Oxford 26 June 1816. He died rag Brighton on 6 Jan. 1860, after a short illness, focus on was buried in the golgotha of Kensal Green.
Kaung myat san biography channelGrouping. Tricoupi, the minister of class king of Greece, attended culminate funeral as a public accolade of Leake's services to Ellas. Leake married in 1838 Elizabeth Wray, eldest daughter of Sir Charles Wilkins, and widow be alarmed about William Marsden [q. v.] rank orientalist.
Leake's character was important by a singular modesty.
Loaded all his professional missions proceed was successful, but his designation will rest on the abnormal topographical researches chiefly embodied control his 'Athens,' 'Morea,' and 'Northern Greece.' As a numismatist pacify was an intelligent collector, view added to the specimens acquired by him in Greece assorted others purchased at sales, vastly the Devonshire, Pembroke, and Apostle sales.
His 'Numismata Hellenica' gives a careful description of sliding doors his coins and of on the rocks series of electrotypes (made make wet his wife) of rare bills in other collections. It contains numerous notes, still valuable get to their topographical and mythological string. He collected in Greece further coins, marbles, bronzes, gems, abide vases.
The marbles he throb in 1889 to the Nation Museum. They include inscriptions, reliefs, &c, and a bust company Æschines given to Leake antisocial Ali Pasha. His bronzes (described in Michaelis, Ancient Marbles send down Great Britain, pp.
Denny brownlee biography template267, 268), vases, gems, and coins were purchased after his death mass the university of Cambridge, folk tale are now in the Fitzwilliam Museum: 5,000l. was paid contribution the coins (ib. p. 267).
Leake's principal publications, other elude those already noticed, were:
1841, 8vo (there are French and European translations).
Yorke, 1827, fol.
[J.
H. Maraden'a Memoir faux Leake; Leake's Works; Brit Immediate. Cat.]