Hugh Martin Leake, born at Hadley in Middlesex in 1878, was the son of William Martin. He was educated at Dulwich College and was admitted pensioner under Mr Cartmell to Christ's College on 8th June 1897. He received a BA in Natural Sciences (second class) in 1900, and an MA in 1904. He shot for the University against Oxford in the Chancellor's VIII and Humphry Cup in 1900. Leake went on to be Biologist to the Behar Planters' Association, India 1901-4, and Director of the Government Botanical Gardens, Saharanpur 1904-7. He was in charge of Botanical Research Work at the Agricultural College, Nawabganj, Cawnpore, from 1907. An obituary of Leake by F. A. Buttress included the following tribute: 'Such was the tenacity of everything that Hugh Martin-Leake undertook that even in his 90's he was still fighting for what he considered to be right as evidenced by his contributions against fluoridation, his interest and membership for many years in the Soil Association, his continuous fight for the conservation and recycling of urban waste and not least his dislike of bureaucracy.'