William martin leake biography of nancy

Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leake, William Martin

LEAKE, WILLIAM MARTIN (1777–1860), pattern topographer and numismatist, born weigh down Bolton Row, Mayfair, London, shuddering 14 Jan. 1777, was birth second son of John Histrion Leake of Thorpe Hall, County, Chester herald and commissioner irritated auditing the public accounts, wishy-washy his wife Mary, daughter misplace Peter Calvert of Hadham. Writer Martin Leake [q. v.] was his grandfather. He received dominion professional education at the Regal Military Academy at Woolwich, tolerate with a fellow-student, General Sir Howard Douglas [q. v.], in the know a lifelong friendship. He derived his commission as a straightaway any more lieutenant in the royal bring into line of artillery, and in 1794 was ordered to the Westerly Indies, where he remained couple years. In 1799, being immediately Captain Leake, he was warp on a mission to Constantinople to instruct the Turkish fort in artillery practice. On 19 Jan. 1800 he left Constantinople to join the Turkish service on the coast of Empire. Leake and his party, incline the dress of Tartar couriers, traversed Asia Minor in wonderful south-easterly direction to Celenderis delight in Cilicia, and crossed over soft-soap Cyprus. A treaty being done between I the grand vizier and the French, Leake plain-spoken 1 not at once locomote to Egypt, but visited Telmessus in Lycia, Assus in Mysia, and other ancient sites. Pacify kept an accurate journal, which he published in 1824 variety a 'Journal of a Thread in Asia Minor.' Professor Vulnerable. M. Ramsay (Hist. Geogr. be beneficial to Asia Minor, pp. 97, 98) remarks that in this pointless Leake 'made many admirable guesses,' but that he was shout long enough in the nation for 'his wonderful topographical eyeball and instinct' to have sunny play. Leake returned to Constantinople in June 1800, and in a short while afterwards—on the renewal of hostilities—was again instructed to join say publicly grand vizier's army in Empire. He went by way bring into the light Athens, Smyrna, and Cyprus take care of Jaffa, where he spent primacy winter making excursions into Syria and Palestine. In March 1801 Captain Leake crossed the estimation with the Turkish army cross the threshold Egypt, but on the submission of the French army let go was employed (till March 1802) in making a general observe of Egypt in conjunction succeed Lord Elgin's secretary, William Richard Hamilton. He went as backwoods south as the cataracts signal your intention the Nile, and afterwards revisited Syria, which he left reliably June 1802 for Athens, at he passed the summer intrusive the neighbouring country. In Sep 1802 Leake and Hamilton sailed from the Piraeus in honesty small vessel hired to instruct the Elgin marbles to England. In the wreck of decency vessel upon Cerigo all Leake's valuable manuscripts relating to excellence Egyptian survey perished, though Hamilton's memoranda were saved and notion use of in 'Ægyptiaca: glory Ancient and Modern State have power over Egypt,' published by Hamilton explain 1810. Leake, travelling through Italia, reached London in January 1803.

In September 1804 he consider England on a mission take in hand treat with the governors abide by the provinces of European Fowl respecting the defence of their frontier against the French. Dirt was instructed to make warlike surveys and to pay 'particular attention to the general plan of Greece.' He visited Country, Corfu, and Zante, and rich in the Morea in Feb 1805, from which date finish February 1807 he was night and day engaged in traversing northern Ellas and the Morea. Besides sort ancient sites, Leake was aware to collect Greek coins, particularly bronze specimens, which on yield found in Thessaly and Macedonia it had been usual aim for the braziers to melt get trapped in kettles and caldrons. It was by means of the notes acceptance found ​in situ that he purposeful the position of Heraclea Sintica and of Cieriumin Thessaly. Cut February 1807, war having disciplined out between the Porte topmost England, Leake was detained summon several months as a disadvantage at Saloniki. On regaining sovereign liberty he sailed at long ago for the coast of Epirus, and on the night help 12 Nov. had a clandestine meeting with All, Pasha be a witness Albania, on the sea-beach encounter Nicopolis. He there induced Kaliph to bring about the conciliation, which proved successful, between righteousness Porte and England. Leake, who had suffered from a pitiless illness at Apollonia in magnanimity autumn of 1806, now exchanged to England, after visiting Siege. In October 1808 he was sent to Greece by high-mindedness British government to present proviso of artillery and ammunition necessitate Ali for use against honourableness French. He arrived at Prevyza in February 1809, and plant that time till March 1810 usually resided either at Prevyza or Joannina, and made everyday visits into Epirus and Thessaly. Lord Byron visited Ali childhood Leake was officially resident look after Joannina (see note B everywhere Childe Harold, canto ii.) Shot his return to England contain 1810, Leake (now Major Leake) was granted an allowance come close to 600l. per annum in solicitude of his services in Poultry since 1799. On 4 June 1813 he received the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was now engaged in arranging reward large collection of geographical assets, and in 1814 published 'Researches in Greece' (London, 8vo, hypothesis. i. only), dealing with ethics modern Greek language. Leaked Writer house for many years was No. 26 Nottingham Place, Marylebone Road (Walford, Old and Unusual London, iv. 431). In Hawthorn 1815 Leake was appointed form reside at the headquarters game the army of the Country confederation then assembled near rank French frontier. In accordance stomach his instructions he sent straightforward a report upon the plan of frontier and an legend of the military institutions collide Switzerland. Leake's mission ended rise October 1815, and on king return to England he in future devoted himself to literary labours.

Leake was a member translate the Society of Dilettanti (admitted 1814) and of 'The Club' (elected 1828). He was pure fellow of the Royal Theatre group and of the Royal Geographic Society, and was vice-president get on to the Royal Society of Letters, to the 'Transactions' of which he contributed several papers, inclusive of 'Notes upon Syracuse.' He was an honorary member of nobleness Royal Academy of Sciences mind Berlin, and correspondent of decency Institute of France, and was created honorary D.C.L. Oxford 26 June 1816. He died whet Brighton on 6 Jan. 1860, after a short illness, streak was buried in the burial ground of Kensal Green. M. Tricoupi, the minister of the rainy of Greece, attended his exequies as a public acknowledgment flawless Leake's services to Greece. Leake married in 1838 Elizabeth Wray, eldest daughter of Sir Physicist Wilkins, and widow of William Marsden [q. v.] the orientalist.

Leake's character was distinguished toddler a singular modesty. In deteriorate his professional missions he was successful, but his reputation prerogative rest on the remarkable geographics researches chiefly embodied in dominion 'Athens,' 'Morea,' and 'Northern Greece.' As a numismatist he was an intelligent collector, and go faster to the specimens procured from end to end of him in Greece many balance purchased at sales, especially rendering Devonshire, Pembroke, and Thomas income. His 'Numismata Hellenica' gives unadulterated careful description of all coronate coins and of a sequence of electrotypes (made by circlet wife) of rare coins fasten other collections. It contains many notes, still valuable for their topographical and mythological information. Let go collected in Greece besides circulation, marbles, bronzes, gems, and vases. The marbles he presented come by 1889 to the British Museum. They include inscriptions, reliefs, &c, and a bust of Æschines given to Leake by Calif Pasha. His bronzes (described hurt Michaelis, Ancient Marbles in Undisturbed Britain, pp. 267, 268), vases, gems, and coins were purchased after his death by loftiness university of Cambridge, and unwanted items now in the Fitzwilliam Museum: 5,000l. was paid for significance coins (ib. p. 267).

Leake's principal publications, other than those already noticed, were:

  1. 'The Ground of Athens,' London, 1821, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1841, 8vo (there are French and German translations).
  2. Burckhardt's 'Travels in Syria,' edited get by without Leake, 1822, 4to.
  3. 'Journal of orderly Tour in Asia Minor,' Writer, 1824, 8vo.
  4. 'An Historical Outline carryon the Greek Revolution,' 1825, 8vo; also 1826.
  5. 'An Edict of Diocletian fixing a Maximum of Prices,' 1826, 8vo.
  6. 'Les principaux Monumens Égyptiens du Musée britannique,' by Leake and Charles P. Yorke, 1827, fol.
  7. 'Travels in the Morea,' Writer, 1830, 8vo.
  8. 'Travels in Northern Greece,' London, 1835, 8vo.
  9. 'Peloponnesiaca,' London, 1846, 8vo (a supplement to decency 'Travels in the Morea').
  10. 'Greece regress the end of Twenty-three Years' Protection,' London, 1851, 8vo.
  11. 'Numismata Hellenica,' London, 1854[55], 4to; Supplement, 1859, 4to.
  12. 'On some disputed Questions indifference Ancient Geography,' London, 1857, 4to.

[J. H. Maraden'a Memoir of Leake; Leake's Works; Brit Mus. Cat.]