Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/432

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writers at Lloyd’s, and by them laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. The court-martial by which Lieutenant Leach was necessarily tried, for the loss of the Milbrook, not only acquitted him of all blame, but deemed his conduct highly meritorious and praiseworthy; and the crew of that vessel, in order to evince their esteem and gratitude, requested his acceptance of a sword, value fifty guineas.

We next find Lieutenant Leach proceeding in the Black Joke lugger, to the coast of Spain, on a special service; and afterwards commanding the Desperate, mortar-vessel, on the Downs station. He served as an agent for transports during the Walcheren expedition, in 1809; obtained the command of the Arrow schooner, on his return from the Scheldt; and was advanced to the rank of commander in Oct. 1810. Between Sept. 1814 and Dec. 1815, he commanded the Martial sloop, successively employed on the Irish, West India, and Channel stations. From June 1825 until July 1828, he assisted Captain John Bowker and his successor, in superintending the Ordinary at Plymouth.

Commander Leach died at his native place. Deal, Aug. 22d, 1831. He was twice married; but left no issue.



JOHN CARTWRIGHT, Esq.
(Better known as Major Cartwright, the celebrated political agitator).
[Commander.]

This officer was descended from a family, the head of which represented the borough of Retford, during the reign of Charles I. One of his brothers, Charles Cartwright, Esq., was author of “A Journal of Transactions and Events during a Residence of nearly sixteen years on the coast of Labrador,” 3 vols. 4to. published in 1793; and another, the Rev. Edmund Cartwright, D.D., rector of Goadby Merwood, co, Leicester, and prebendary of Lincoln, a gentleman of extraordinary mechanical talents, and author of several works.

Mr. John Cartwright was born, we believe, at Marsham, co. Nottingham, in 1740; and entered the royal navy just in