Modern English biography

LEECE, JOSEPH (1 son of John Leece). _b._ Edgley, Stockport, Cheshire 8 Sep. 1833; lodge boy to Joseph Whitworth, engineer, Manchester 1847, foreman of shops where he improved the machinery, managed the manufactory of guns and rifles; conducted the heavy gun trials Whitworth versus Armstrong 1863–4; introduced the Whitworth small arms to the volunteers; sighted the rifle for the Queen at Wimbledon 2 July 1860; hit the target 5 times in succession at 1000 yards; present at meetings for trial of light field guns at Versailles and Chalon; member of war office ordnance committee; managing director of sir J. Whitworth & Co.; M.I.C.E. 6 May 1879. _d._ Melbourne, Australia 13 Jany. 1886. _Min. of proc. of Instit. of C.E. lxxxv_ 399 (1886). LEECH, JOHN (son of John Leech, proprietor of the London Coffee-house, Ludgate Hill, London, bankrupt 6 Jany. 1832). _b._ Bennett st. Stamford st. London 29 Aug. 1817; ed. at the Charterhouse 1824–33; studied at St. Bartholomew’s hospital; published Etchings and Sketchings. By A. Pen 1835; employed on Bell’s Life in London; illustrated Theodore Hook’s novel Jack Brag 1837; contributed to fourth number of Punch 7 Aug. 1841 a full-page illustration entitled Foreign Affairs, signed with the Leech in the bottle as well as John Leech; chief artist on Punch 1842 to death, executed 600 cartoons and 2400 small drawings for which he received about £40,000; illustrated the Ingoldsby Legends and Albert Smith’s novels in Bentley’s Miscellany; supplied etchings or cuts for New Monthly Mag. 1842–4, Illuminated Mag. 1843–5, Dickens’ Christmas Stories 1843–8, R. S. Surtees’ sporting novels 1853–65, Once a Week 1859–64, Illustrated London News, Punch’s Pocket Book and many other works; published Portraits of the children of the nobility 1841; Pictures of life, from Punch 5 series 1854–69 and other books; exhibited a series of sketches in oil at Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, June–Aug. 1862; hunted with the Puckeridge and Pytchley hounds; his portrait by sir John Millais was exhibited at the R.A. 1855. _d._ 6 The Terrace, Kensington 29 Oct. 1864. _bur._ Kensal Green 4 Nov. An exhibition of outlines by J. Leech held at 9 Conduit st. London 1872. _W. P. Frith’s John Leech 2 vols._ (1891), _portrait_; _F. G. Kitton’s John Leech_ (1884); _John Leech and other papers. By John Brown_ (1882) 1–79; _Fine Art. By W. A. Rossetti_ (1867) 282–9; _Illust. Review iv_ 289–98, _portrait_; _Baily’s Mag. ix_ 58–65 (1864), _portrait_; _I.L.N. vii_ 329 (1845), _portrait_. NOTE.--His widow Anne Leech was granted a civil list pension of £100, 19 June 1865; his only son C. W. Leech was drowned off Port Adelaide on his voyage home from Australia 29 March 1876 aged 20. He drew a portrait of himself as the clarionet player next to the conductor of the orchestra in the two-page cartoon entitled ‘Mr. Punch’s fancy ball’ in Punch 9 Jany. 1847. LEEDS, FRANCIS GODOLPHIN D’ARCY DARCY-OSBORNE, 7 Duke of. _b._ 21 May 1798; styled marquess of Carmarthen 1799–1838; cornet 10 hussars 19 Sep. 1817, lieut. 1821–5; capt. 17 lancers 1825; capt. 2 life guards 1826–8; M.P. Helston 1826–30; summoned to house of lords as baron Osborne 2 July 1838; succeeded as 7 duke 10 July 1838; col. in chief of North York militia 11 Feb. 1846 to death; took the name of Darcy 6 Aug. 1849; celebrated as a huntsman and deer stalker. _d._ Clarendon hotel, 169 New Bond st. London 4 May 1859. _m._ 24 April 1828 Louisa Catherine 3 dau. of Richard Caton and widow of sir F. E. B. Harvey, bart. who _d._ 1819. She _d._ 8 April 1874. _Burke’s Portrait gallery_, _ii_ 87, 90 (1833), _portrait of the Duchess_; _I.L.N. xxv_ 616 (1854) _portrait_, _xxxiv_ 478, 485 (1859) _portrait_. LEEDS, ROBERT. _b._ 1811; rented a large farm at Holkham and resided at Keswick Old Hall for many years; assisted in formation of company which built Agricultural hall, Islington 1861 and was chairman 1862, and chief mover in the annual horse shows there; chairman of Smithfield club, then vice president; oldest member of Farmers’ club; on council of R. Agricultural Soc. of England 1869–89. _d._ Norwich 27 June 1890. _I.L.N. 12 July 1890 p._ 53, _portrait_. LEEDS, WILLIAM HENRY. _b._ 1786; engaged in commercial pursuits; an architectural critic 30 years; wrote much in the Foreign quarterly review and other periodicals; wrote many of the articles on architecture in the Penny Cyclopædia; published Moller’s Memorials of German-Gothic architecture,