<p>Portrait of Rev. Seymour Leke/Leeke (1743-1786) of Yaxley Hall, Suffolk, when a student at Cambridge University.  He was the son of Nicholas Leeke (d.1760) of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton_Scarsdale_Hall" class="extiw" title="w:Sutton Scarsdale Hall">w:Sutton Scarsdale Hall</a> near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, an illegitimate son of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Leke,_4th_Earl_of_Scarsdale" class="extiw" title="w:Nicholas Leke, 4th Earl of Scarsdale">w:Nicholas Leke, 4th Earl of Scarsdale</a> (1682–1736), by his mistress "Madame Margaret Seymour". It is said that the 4th Earl had eighty living children at the time of his' death. "the representation of the aged peer, with an earl's coronet on the end of his crutch in one of Hogarth's series, styled " Marriage a la mode," is a caricature of this nobleman" In 1736 Margaret Seymour purchased Yaxley Hall from Mr. Samuel Newstead, of Brome, the executor of Mrs Susan Yaxley. "Madame Margaret Seymour" was seemingly the pseudonym of Margaret Lomax, a daughter of Lawrence Lomax, of Eye. "Her second son by Lord Scarsdale was baptised Seymour Leeke, and her grandson, who in later years inherited the Yaxley property, bore the same name". Madame Margaret Seymour had three children by 4th Earl of Scarsdale and acknowledged by him as such: Nicholas was the elder son, Seymour the younger son, and Margaret the only daughter. To them and their heirs, under a trust, was the Yaxley property bequeathed respectively and in order, and then in default to Margaret's two sisters.  (see Volume XVI Part 2 (1917)_Yaxley Hall Its owners and occupiers <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://suffolkinstitute.pdfsrv.co.uk/customers/Suffolk%20Institute/2014/01/10/Volume%20XVI%20Part%202%20(1917)_Yaxley%20Hall%20Its%20owners%20and%20occupiers%20Part%20II%20E%20Farrer_134%20to%20166.pdf">[1]</a>, pp.135 et seq)
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Per text from catalogue, Gov't Art Collection: <i>Seymour Leeke's uncle died in 1747, his father in 1760 and his elder brother, Henry Leke, at the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776. As a result, Leeke inherited the remaining fortune of the Earls of Scarsdale and the Yaxley Hall estate. This portrait was painted when Leeke was a student at St Peter’s College, Cambridge, and includes his college cap and gown. The Reverend Seymour Leeke is depicted in a blue coat, with a white satin flowered waistcoat beneath. He wears bright yellow breeches and striped white stockings. He also wears a gown and holds a college cap with a gold tassel. Lying at his feet is a greyhound. Although he was subsequently ordained, there is no record of him being appointed a curate. In 1773 he married Mary Rant, daughter of Humphrey Rant of Dickleburgh, Norfolk. The couple separated after a month and Mary retuned to Dickleburgh. Later that year Leeke made a tour of France and Belgium, which is documented in his journal. By October 1778 he had purchased the Manor of Groton, Suffolk, which he retained until c.1784. On Boxing Day, 1785, he moved to Great Queen Street, London, where he died</i>. His funeral hatchment survives in St Mary's Church, Yaxley, inscribed on the frame "Rev'd Seymour Leeke of Yaxley Hall, died March 2nd 1786 aged 43 years". Arms: <i>Argent, on a saltire engrailed sable nine annulets or</i> (Leke)
Painted by "John, snr Sanders" (John Sanders, Senior, father of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sanders_(painter)" class="extiw" title="w:John Sanders (painter)">John Sanders</a> (1750–1825), whose son was also a painter named John).
c.1763, assuming he was aged about 20 when painted at St Peter’s College, Cambridge, seemingly as a graduate.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://artcollection.culture.gov.uk/artwork/2144/">https://artcollection.culture.gov.uk/artwork/2144/</a>