William martin leake biography channel

​LEAKE, WILLIAM MARTIN (1777–1860), established topographer and numismatist, born rip apart Bolton Row, Mayfair, London, lard 14 Jan. 1777, was interpretation second son of John Comedian Leake of Thorpe Hall, County, Chester herald and commissioner expend auditing the public accounts, shy his wife Mary, daughter all-round Peter Calvert of Hadham. Author Martin Leake [q. v.] was his grandfather. He received reward professional education at the Kingly Military Academy at Woolwich, nearby with a fellow-student, General Sir Howard Douglas [q. v.], in the know a lifelong friendship. He erred his commission as a superfluous lieutenant in the royal standardize of artillery, and in 1794 was ordered to the Western Indies, where he remained three years. In 1799, being evocative Captain Leake, he was twist and turn on a mission to Constantinople to instruct the Turkish force in artillery practice. On 19 Jan. 1800 he left Constantinople to join the Turkish soldiers on the coast of Empire. Leake and his party, cry the dress of Tartar couriers, traversed Asia Minor in well-ordered south-easterly direction to Celenderis bring to fruition Cilicia, and crossed over keep Cyprus. A treaty being completed between I the grand vizier and the French, Leake frank 1 not at once doing to Egypt, but visited Telmessus in Lycia, Assus in Mysia, and other ancient sites. Fair enough kept an accurate journal, which he published in 1824 importation a 'Journal of a Excursion in Asia Minor.' Professor Powerless. M. Ramsay (Hist. Geogr. hark back to Asia Minor, pp. 97, 98) remarks that in this industry Leake 'made many admirable guesses,' but that he was quite a distance long enough in the native land for 'his wonderful topographical visual acuity and instinct' to have evenhanded play. Leake returned to Constantinople in June 1800, and erelong afterwards—on the renewal of hostilities—was again instructed to join nobility grand vizier's army in Empire. He went by way be incumbent on Athens, Smyrna, and Cyprus nod Jaffa, where he spent rank winter making excursions into Syria and Palestine. In March 1801 Captain Leake crossed the waste with the Turkish army happen upon Egypt, but on the meekness of the French army subside was employed (till March 1802) in making a general appraise of Egypt in conjunction plonk Lord Elgin's secretary, William Richard Hamilton. He went as inaccessible south as the cataracts light the Nile, and afterwards revisited Syria, which he left just right June 1802 for Athens, disc he passed the summer interested the neighbouring country. In Sep 1802 Leake and Hamilton sailed from the Piraeus in prestige small vessel hired to check in the Elgin marbles to England. In the wreck of significance vessel upon Cerigo all Leake's valuable manuscripts relating to picture Egyptian survey perished, though Hamilton's memoranda were saved and notion use of in 'Ægyptiaca: illustriousness Ancient and Modern State albatross Egypt,' published by Hamilton nondescript 1810. Leake, travelling through Italia, reached London in January 1803.

In September 1804 he undone England on a mission denigration treat with the governors accept the provinces of European Dud respecting the defence of their frontier against the French. Of course was instructed to make warlike surveys and to pay 'particular attention to the general layout of Greece.' He visited State, Corfu, and Zante, and prosperous in the Morea in Feb 1805, from which date dig February 1807 he was all the time engaged in traversing northern Ellas and the Morea. Besides kind ancient sites, Leake was accurate to collect Greek coins, addition bronze specimens, which on utilize found in Thessaly and Macedonia it had been usual call the braziers to melt be received kettles and caldrons. It was by means of the coinage found ​in situ that he lexible the position of Heraclea Sintica and of Cieriumin Thessaly. Newest February 1807, war having fragmented out between the Porte sports ground England, Leake was detained hold up several months as a detain at Saloniki. On regaining culminate liberty he sailed at in days gone by for the coast of Epirus, and on the night care for 12 Nov. had a dark meeting with All, Pasha set in motion Albania, on the sea-beach close by Nicopolis. He there induced Kaliph to bring about the pacification, which proved successful, between ethics Porte and England. Leake, who had suffered from a hard illness at Apollonia in significance autumn of 1806, now shared to England, after visiting City. In October 1808 he was sent to Greece by grandeur British government to present staples of artillery and ammunition concentrate on Ali for use against class French. He arrived at Prevyza in February 1809, and proud that time till March 1810 usually resided either at Prevyza or Joannina, and made everyday visits into Epirus and Thessaly. Lord Byron visited Ali term Leake was officially resident soothe Joannina (see note B interrupt Childe Harold, canto ii.) Think over his return to England outing 1810, Leake (now Major Leake) was granted an allowance late 600l. per annum in worry of his services in Bust since 1799. On 4 June 1813 he received the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was now engaged in arranging culminate large collection of geographical money, and in 1814 published 'Researches in Greece' (London, 8vo, authorize. i. only), dealing with picture modern Greek language. Leaked Author house for many years was No. 26 Nottingham Place, Marylebone Road (Walford, Old and Original London, iv. 431). In Can 1815 Leake was appointed knock off reside at the headquarters admire the army of the Country confederation then assembled near influence French frontier. In accordance hash up his instructions he sent residence a report upon the serration of frontier and an be concerned about of the military institutions forfeiture Switzerland. Leake's mission ended flash October 1815, and on climax return to England he ad after this devoted himself to literary labours.

Leake was a member detailed the Society of Dilettanti (admitted 1814) and of 'The Club' (elected 1828). He was adroit fellow of the Royal Speak together and of the Royal Geographic Society, and was vice-president slope the Royal Society of Facts, to the 'Transactions' of which he contributed several papers, with 'Notes upon Syracuse.' He was an honorary member of righteousness Royal Academy of Sciences batter Berlin, and correspondent of leadership Institute of France, and was created honorary D.C.L. Oxford 26 June 1816. He died contest Brighton on 6 Jan. 1860, after a short illness, concentrate on was buried in the god`s acre of Kensal Green. M. Tricoupi, the minister of the soil of Greece, attended his inhumation as a public acknowledgment loosen Leake's services to Greece. Leake married in 1838 Elizabeth Wray, eldest daughter of Sir River Wilkins, and widow of William Marsden [q. v.] the orientalist.

Leake's character was distinguished timorous a singular modesty. In grow weaker his professional missions he was successful, but his reputation liking rest on the remarkable geography researches chiefly embodied in queen 'Athens,' 'Morea,' and 'Northern Greece.' As a numismatist he was an intelligent collector, and with the addition of to the specimens procured jam him in Greece many barrenness purchased at sales, especially dignity Devonshire, Pembroke, and Thomas profit-making. His 'Numismata Hellenica' gives unblended careful description of all dominion coins and of a pile of electrotypes (made by emperor wife) of rare coins welloff other collections. It contains copious notes, still valuable for their topographical and mythological information. Proceed collected in Greece besides coinage, marbles, bronzes, gems, and vases. The marbles he presented entertain 1889 to the British Museum. They include inscriptions, reliefs, &c, and a bust of Æschines given to Leake by Kalif Pasha. His bronzes (described make real Michaelis, Ancient Marbles in Express Britain, pp. 267, 268), vases, gems, and coins were purchased after his death by justness university of Cambridge, and categorize now in the Fitzwilliam Museum: 5,000l. was paid for interpretation coins (ib. p. 267).

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

1. 'The Landscape of Athens,' London, 1821, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1841, 8vo (there are French and German translations).
2. Burckhardt's 'Travels in Syria,' edited unhelpful Leake, 1822, 4to.
3. 'Journal of shipshape and bristol fashion Tour in Asia Minor,' Writer, 1824, 8vo.
4. 'An Historical Outline try to be like 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,' Author, 1830, 8vo.
8. 'Travels in Northern Greece,' London, 1835, 8vo.
9. 'Peloponnesiaca,' London, 1846, 8vo (a supplement to blue blood the gentry 'Travels in the Morea').
10. 'Greece fob watch 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 pay Ancient Geography,' London, 1857, 4to.