cartoonist, was born in London on 23 August 1817, of Irish descent. After being educated at Charterhouse, where he was friends with Thackeray, he studied medicine at St Bartholemew’s Hospital and practised for a while as a surgeon. Meanwhile, at the age of 18, he had published Etchings and Sketchings (1835). In 1836 he contributed cartoons to Bell’s Life and in 1840 began to work for Bentley’s Miscellany . He sent his first contribution to London Punch in 1841 and from then on mostly drew cartoons for it; by 1861 it had published 720. ML has an original pencil sketch for the frontispiece of Punch’s Pocket Book 1854 (DG SSV*/GEN/7), annotated verso '[Copy?] Survey of the Antipodes’, like an interior scene in an English pub but set outdoors on the gold fields, i.e. it became 'Topsy Turvey – or Our Antipodes’ 1854, where an MA, 'Intellectual’ and gentlewoman serve beer to rough miners etc. (b/w print, DL uncatalogued cabinet; hand-coloured etchings in BFAG et al.). Its companion piece, 'Alarming Prospect, the Single Ladies off to the Diggings’ 1853 (copies NLA, BFAG and DL SLNSW acc. Oldfield).
Although best known for his black and while illustrations, Leech also painted. He had been taught to paint in oils by J.E. Millais, and he occasionally worked in gouache and watercolours too.
- Writers:
- Kerr, Joan
- Date written:
- 1996
- Last updated:
- 2007
