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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Leach, Charles

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1800051A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Leach, CharlesWilliam Richard O'Byrne

LEACH. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 21; h-p., 12.)

Charles Leach was born 12 Sept. 1800. This officer entered the Navy, 23 June, 1814, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Monmouth 64, Capt. Wm. Wilkinson, flag-ship in the North Sea of the late Sir Thos. Foley. In the following month he removed to the Forester 18, Capt. Wm. Hendry, lying at Portsmouth; and during the next seven years we find him employed, on the Cape of Good Hope, Home, African, and South American stations, principally as Midshipman, in the Harpy 16, Capt. Geo. Tyler, Malta 80, Capt. Thos. Gordon Caulfeild. Inconstant and Semiramis frigates, bearing each the broad pendant of Sir Jas. Lucas Yeo, and Alert 18, and Myrmidon 20, both commanded by Capt. Henry John Leeke. He then, in Nov. 1821, passed his examination, but it was not until 9 April, 1828, that he succeeded in obtaining a commission. By that time he had further served, almost without interruption, in the Fly 18, Capts. Geo. Tyler and Edw. Curzon, Doris 42, Capts. Thos. Bourchier and Wm. Jas. Hope Johnstone, Prince Regent 120, bearing the flag of Sir Robt. Moorsom at Chatham, and Ranger 28, Capt. Lord Henry Fred. Thynne – all which ships, excepting the Prince Regent, were stationed in South America, where, from the date of his promotion, as above, until the early part of 1830, and again from 6 Oct. 1832, until he invalided in March, 1834, he was further employed on board the Cadmus 10, Capt. Sir Thos. Raikes Trigge Thompson, and Spartiate 76, bearing the flag of Sir Michael Seymour. His last appointment was 28 July, 1834, to the Winchester 52, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Thos. Bladen Capel in the East Indies, whence he returned home and was paid off in June, 1838. He attained his present rank 23 Nov. 1841.