Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
William Bell Leake
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1806-1886
History
William Bell Leake was the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Leake. After establishing Rosedale John Leake left its management to his eldest son William, while he acted as accountant in the Derwent Bank in Hobart, in 1830 John Leake resumed the management of the farm and his son William replaced him at the bank. William suffered bouts of insanity which began in 1863. He lived most of the time at New Norfolk, either at the Asylum or with Dr. Huston, the Superintendent and his family where he was happy and enjoyed gardening, fishing and reminiscing about Hull and Hamburg. His letters show he was usually quite rational, apart from occasional fantasies and extravagances, and his nieces all loved their "old Uncle Billy".