download a high resolution photo click here. NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Douglas Edward Leach, a professor of history, emeritus, at Vanderbilt University who was nationally recognized for his books on colonial American military history, passed away July 1 at his Nashville home. Leach, 83, had battled leukemia for many years.
Leach was born in Providence, R.I., attended Cranston High School and stayed close to home for college, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University in 1942. He later earned his master’s and doctorate in American history from Harvard University. From 1942 to 1946, Leach served as a deck officer in the U.S. Navy with special training in antisubmarine warfare. His sea duty was mostly in the Pacific on board the U.S.S. Elden. Years later the North American Society for Oceanic History honored his book Now Hear This: The Memoir of a Junior Naval Officer in the Great Pacific War with the John Lyman Book Award.
Leach taught at Bates College for four years before leaving New England to join the Vanderbilt faculty in 1956. He taught and wrote extensively about early American history, including Native American-European relations, the frontier days and Puritan colonization. His books included: Flintlock and Tomahawk: New England in King Philip’s War; The Northern Colonial Frontier, 1607-1763; Arms for Empire: A Military History of the British Colonies in North America, 1607-1763; and Roots of Conflict: British Armed Forces and Colonial Americans, 1677-1763.
Leach earned numerous scholarly achievements, including Fulbright lectureships at the universities of Liverpool and Auckland; a National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellowship and the Harvie Branscomb Distinguished Professorship from 1981 to 1982. He chaired the Department of History from 1979 to 1982 and also served as director of its graduate studies two different times. In addition, he directed the Vanderbilt-in-England Program at the University of Leeds from 1974 to 1975.
At the time he received emeritus status in 1986, Leach was clearly one of the world’s leading authorities on 17th century colonial American military history. However, as one of his long-term colleagues emphasized, scholarly achievements do not begin to measure the greatness of Leach. "He was a kind man, sensitive to the feelings of others. He exemplified the moral integrity, strength of character and religious concerns that so marked his New England progenitors," said Paul Conkin, distinguished research professor of history.
Sam McSeveney, professor of history, emeritus, said he warmly remembers Leach as both a colleague and thoughtful department chair. McSeveney was fortunate enough to stay in touch with Leach after retirement. "We continued to share excellent historical discussions about mutual research interests," he said.
Leach enjoyed hiking, mountain climbing and camping and said that he sometimes used those interests for field research for his books. Leach made the following comments about his book Flintlock and Tomahawk. "I set out to learn all I could about King Philip’s War by carefully studying the scattered and sometimes fragmentary records which have survived and by visiting most of the scenes of action. The trail led me back and forth over southern New England, with stops to consult not only the more important archives, but also the many local records still tucked away in town clerks’ offices. It was a fascinating quest." His family often accompanied him on these trips.
Leach is survived by his wife of 53 years, Brenda Mason Leach, and their two children, Carol Lea-Mord (Kevin Morehead) of Franklin, Tenn., and Brad R. Leach (Cindy Williams) of Littleton, Colorado. His sister, Marilyn Schmid, of Wakefield, R.I, also survives him.
A memorial service for Leach will take place at 4:30 p.m. on July 7 at Calvary United Methodist Church, where he was a member. Visitation with the family is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the church.
Leach donated his body to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Nashville Red Cross, Community Care Fellowship, Second Harvest Food Bank, Friends of Warner Parks and Alive Hospice.
Media contact: Ann Marie Owens, (615) 322-NEWS annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu