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 Charter house 1824–33; studied at St. Bartholomew’s hospital; published Etchings and Sketch ings. 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 In golds by 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 Mill a is 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. Ro etti (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.