Sheppard C. Leakin
{{Short description|American politician (1790–1867)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sheppard Church Leakin
| image = Gen. Sheppard C. Leakin (cropped).png
| alt =
| caption = Portrait of Leakin
| order = 10th
| office = Mayor of Baltimore
| term_start = November 5, 1838
| term_end = November 2, 1840
| predecessor = Samuel Smith
| successor = Samuel Brady
| constituency =
| majority =
| birth_date = {{birth year|1790}}
| birth_place = Govanstown, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1867|11|20|1790||}}
| death_place = Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.
| resting_place =
| party = Republican
Whig
| relations =
| spouse = Margaret Dobbin
| children = 2
| alma_mater =
| residence =
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|printer}}
| religion =
| signature =
| branch =
| unit = 38th Infantry Regiment
| battles = {{tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
| serviceyears =
}}
Sheppard Church Leakin (1790 – November 20, 1867) was Mayor of Baltimore from November 5, 1838, to November 2, 1840.
Early life
Sheppard Church Leakin was born in 1790, in Govanstown, Maryland (now Baltimore).{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012400/012471/html/12471bio.html |title=Sheppard C. Leakin (1790–1867) |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=May 20, 2002 |access-date=2022-07-26}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106391474/man-in-the-street-leakin-24-jun-1951/ |title=Man In The Street: Leakin |date=June 24, 1951 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-07-26}}{{Open access}} His ancestors emigrated from Northumberland, England in 1684 and acquired an estate on the Patapsco River.
Career
Leakin enlisted in the 38th Infantry Regiment. He was part of the defense of Baltimore at the Battle of North Point and Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393350/hill-says-leakins-ancestor-lived-in/ |title=Hill Says Leakin's Ancestor Lived In Area Urged As Park |date=July 28, 1936 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-07-26}}{{Open access}} He worked as a printer and was the proprietor of a bookstore in Fell's Point. He was a publisher for the Baltimore Chronicle, working with Samuel Barnes.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106390391/death-of-general-sheppard-c-leakin-21/ |title=Death of General Sheppard C. Leakin |date=November 21, 1867 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-07-26}}{{Open access}} He also became president of the Canton Company.
Leakin ran for sheriff of Baltimore County as a Republican. He served as sheriff from 1821 to 1824.{{Cite news |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bco/jud/sheriffs/former/html/00list.html |title=Baltimore County, Maryland – Sheriffs |date=March 14, 2022 |website=Maryland State Archives |access-date=2022-07-27}} Leakin ran for governor as a Whig. He became the Mayor of Baltimore on November 5, 1838, and served until November 2, 1840, after losing the mayoral election to Samuel Brady. During his administration, the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal opened and the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad was completed from Baltimore to York, Pennsylvania.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106451807/municipal-election-20-oct-1840-the/ |title=Municipal Election |date=October 20, 1840 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-07-27}}{{Open access}}
Leakin became major general of the First Light Division of the Maryland Militia in 1862.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106392627/state-military-appointment-21-jul/ |title=State Military Appointment |date=July 21, 1862 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2022-07-26}}{{Open access}}
Personal life
Leakin married Margaret Dobbin. They had two children, George A. and Sheppard A. His son, George Armistead Leakin, was a reverend in Baltimore County.
Leakin died on November 20, 1867, at his home in Spring Hill in Baltimore County.
Legacy
Leakin Street in Baltimore, located on land previously owned by the Canton Company, was named after Leakin by the Canton Company. Leakin Park was named after Leakin's grandson and is situated close to where Leakin lived.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
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{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = Samuel Smith | title = Mayor of Baltimore | years = 1838–1840 | after = Samuel Brady}}
{{s-end}}
{{BaltimoreMayors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leakin, Sheppard C.}}