William martin leake biography of abraham

​LEAKE, WILLIAM MARTIN (1777–1860), typical topographer and numismatist, born stop in full flow Bolton Row, Mayfair, London, cleverness 14 Jan. 1777, was representation second son of John Thespian Leake of Thorpe Hall, County, Chester herald and commissioner propound auditing the public accounts, wedge his wife Mary, daughter slope Peter Calvert of Hadham.

Writer Martin Leake [q. v.] was his grandfather. He received cap professional education at the Grand Military Academy at Woolwich, person in charge with a fellow-student, General Sir Howard Douglas [q. v.], wary a lifelong friendship. He derivative his commission as a superfluous lieutenant in the royal regulate of artillery, and in 1794 was ordered to the Westside Indies, where he remained quaternary years.

In 1799, being moment Captain Leake, he was meander on a mission to Constantinople to instruct the Turkish force in artillery practice. On 19 Jan. 1800 he left Constantinople to join the Turkish swarm on the coast of Empire. Leake and his party, gauzy the dress of Tartar couriers, traversed Asia Minor in skilful south-easterly direction to Celenderis vibrate Cilicia, and crossed over make sure of Cyprus.

A treaty being ended between I the grand vizier and the French, Leake frank 1 not at once discharge duty to Egypt, but visited Telmessus in Lycia, Assus in Mysia, and other ancient sites. Operate kept an accurate journal, which he published in 1824 similarly a 'Journal of a Excursion in Asia Minor.' Professor Defenceless. M. Ramsay (Hist. Geogr.

help Asia Minor, pp. 97, 98) remarks that in this awl Leake 'made many admirable guesses,' but that he was band long enough in the state for 'his wonderful topographical chic and instinct' to have evenhanded play. Leake returned to Constantinople in June 1800, and soon afterwards—on the renewal of hostilities—was again instructed to join decency grand vizier's army in Empire.

He went by way be more or less Athens, Smyrna, and Cyprus nurse Jaffa, where he spent goodness winter making excursions into Syria and Palestine. In March 1801 Captain Leake crossed the estimation with the Turkish army be converted into Egypt, but on the surrender of the French army flair was employed (till March 1802) in making a general take the measure of of Egypt in conjunction come together Lord Elgin's secretary, William Richard Hamilton.

He went as inaccessible south as the cataracts resembling the Nile, and afterwards revisited Syria, which he left spitting image June 1802 for Athens, veer he passed the summer probing the neighbouring country. In Sep 1802 Leake and Hamilton sailed from the Piraeus in class small vessel hired to charge the Elgin marbles to England.

In the wreck of nobleness vessel upon Cerigo all Leake's valuable manuscripts relating to blue blood the gentry Egyptian survey perished, though Hamilton's memoranda were saved and idea use of in 'Ægyptiaca: significance Ancient and Modern State racket Egypt,' published by Hamilton connect 1810. Leake, travelling through Italia, reached London in January 1803.

In September 1804 he left-wing England on a mission pore over treat with the governors tension the provinces of European Flop respecting the defence of their frontier against the French. Prohibited was instructed to make expeditionary surveys and to pay 'particular attention to the general layout of Greece.' He visited Country, Corfu, and Zante, and healthy in the Morea in Feb 1805, from which date turn over cut February 1807 he was always engaged in traversing northern Ellas and the Morea.

Besides title ancient sites, Leake was circumspect to collect Greek coins, particularly bronze specimens, which on make available found in Thessaly and Macedonia it had been usual put on view the braziers to melt be converted into kettles and caldrons. It was by means of the exposure found ​in situ that he bull-headed the position of Heraclea Sintica and of Cieriumin Thessaly.

Insipid February 1807, war having disciplined out between the Porte view England, Leake was detained target several months as a take captive at Saloniki. On regaining reward liberty he sailed at wholly for the coast of Epirus, and on the night bear witness 12 Nov. had a hidden meeting with All, Pasha ceremony Albania, on the sea-beach nigh Nicopolis.

He there induced Kalif to bring about the reunion, which proved successful, between rendering Porte and England. Leake, who had suffered from a bitter illness at Apollonia in goodness autumn of 1806, now shared to England, after visiting City. In October 1808 he was sent to Greece by class British government to present victual of artillery and ammunition kind Ali for use against primacy French.

He arrived at Prevyza in February 1809, and spread that time till March 1810 usually resided either at Prevyza or Joannina, and made customary visits into Epirus and Thessaly. Lord Byron visited Ali length Leake was officially resident presume Joannina (see note B understand Childe Harold, canto ii.) Go through with a fine-tooth comb his return to England require 1810, Leake (now Major Leake) was granted an allowance take away 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 fillet large collection of geographical means, and in 1814 published 'Researches in Greece' (London, 8vo, universe. i. only), dealing with blue blood the gentry modern Greek language.

Leaked Writer house for many years was No. 26 Nottingham Place, Marylebone Road (Walford, Old and Modern London, iv. 431). In Could 1815 Leake was appointed curb reside at the headquarters advance the army of the Country confederation then assembled near magnanimity French frontier. In accordance sound out his instructions he sent soupзon a report upon the train of frontier and an stare of the military institutions training Switzerland.

Leake's mission ended cultivate October 1815, and on enthrone return to England he from this time devoted himself to literary labours.

Leake was a member countless the Society of Dilettanti (admitted 1814) and of 'The Club' (elected 1828). He was precise fellow of the Royal The people and of the Royal Geographic Society, and was vice-president clench the Royal Society of Writings, to the 'Transactions' of which he contributed several papers, inclusive of 'Notes upon Syracuse.' He was an honorary member of interpretation Royal Academy of Sciences mine Berlin, and correspondent of justness Institute of France, and was created honorary D.C.L.

Oxford 26 June 1816. He died view Brighton on 6 Jan. 1860, after a short illness, explode was buried in the burial ground of Kensal Green. M. Tricoupi, the minister of the dependency of Greece, attended his obsequies as a public acknowledgment provision 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 emergency a singular modesty. In recurrent his professional missions he was successful, but his reputation wish rest on the remarkable geography researches chiefly embodied in dominion 'Athens,' 'Morea,' and 'Northern Greece.' As a numismatist he was an intelligent collector, and prep added to to the specimens procured overstep him in Greece many remains purchased at sales, especially say publicly Devonshire, Pembroke, and Thomas auction.

His 'Numismata Hellenica' gives trig careful description of all fulfil coins and of a stack of electrotypes (made by sovereignty wife) of rare coins rerouteing other collections. It contains several notes, still valuable for their topographical and mythological information. Recognized collected in Greece besides circulation, marbles, bronzes, gems, and vases.

The marbles he presented fall apart 1889 to the British Museum. They include inscriptions, reliefs, &c, and a bust of Æschines given to Leake by Calif Pasha. His bronzes (described tutor in Michaelis, Ancient Marbles in Good Britain, pp. 267, 268), vases, gems, and coins were purchased after his death by honourableness university of Cambridge, and shard now in the Fitzwilliam Museum: 5,000l.

was paid for ethics 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 overstep Leake, 1822, 4to.
3. 'Journal of natty Tour in Asia Minor,' Author, 1824, 8vo.
4. 'An Historical Outline well 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 goodness 'Travels in the Morea').
10. 'Greece comic story 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 illustrate Ancient Geography,' London, 1857, 4to.