A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rooke, Leonard Charles
ROOKE. (Captain, 1842. f-p., 17; h-p., 20.)
Leonard Charles Rooke, born 10 Aug. 1797, is youngest son of the late Hon. Mr. Justice Rooke, by Harriet Sophia, daughter of Colonel Wm. Burrard and sister of the late Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Bart., G.C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 24 July, 1810, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Hamadryad 36, Capt. Sir Thos. Staines, under whom we find him cruizing off the Western Islands, escorting troops to the mouth of the Tagus, and accompanying a fleet of East Indiamen from St. Helena to the Downs. In Oct. 1811 he removed to the Tisiphone sloop, Capt. Wm. Love, lying off South Yarmouth; and from 13 May, 1812, until 17 Dec. 1816, he served on the Home and East India stations, as Midshipman, in the Boyne 98 and Ville de Paris 110, flag-ships of his uncle Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Belle Poule 38, Capt. Geo. Harris (part of the force employed at the forcing of the Gironde in April, 1814), Ville de Paris again, Glasgow 50, Capt. Hon. Henry Duncan, and Amphion 32 and Magicienne 36, both commanded by Capt. John Brett Purvis. He then became Acting-Lieutenant of the Bacchus 18, Capt. John Pengelly Parkin; in which vessel (being confirmed to her by commission dated 15 Oct. 1818) he continued, on the East India station, until 1820. His succeeding appointments were – 24 June, 1820, to the Forte 44, Capt. Sir Thos. John Cochrane, fitting at Chatham – 25 July following, to the Cambrian 48, Capt. Gawen Wm. Hamilton, whom he accompanied to the Mediterranean – and, 20 March, 1823, to the Revenge 78, as Flag-Lieutenant, on that station, to Sir H. B. Neale. He attained the rank of Commander 14 Oct. 1824; served in that capacity in the Jasper 10, from 28 April, 1827, until wrecked on the north end of Sta. Maura 13 Oct. 1828; and was lastly, in 1830-1, employed as an Inspecting Commander in the Coast Guard. He was advanced to bis present rank 4 April, 1842. Capt. Rooke married, 24 June, 1830, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the late Lieut.-Colonel Wm. Home, of the Isle of Wight, by whom he has issue seven children. One of his sons is a Midshipman in the service.