Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/432

 LESLIE

LESLIE

thorof: Coal and its Topography (1856); Chiide to the Iron Works of the United States; The Iron 3Ianufacturer's Guide (1859); Man's Origin and Destiny from the Platform of Sciences, Lowell In- stitute lectures, 1865-66 (1868); Catalogue of American Philosophical Society Library, 1863-78; Paul Dreifuss — His Holiday Abroad (1884); Dic- tionary of the Fossils of Pennsylvania (1892); A Summary of Final Reports, Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania (1892).

LESLIE, Charles Robert, painter, was born in London, England, Oct. 19, 1794; son of Robert and Lydia (Barker) Leslie, natives of Philadel- phia, Pa., and a descendant of Robert Lesley of Bull's Mountain, Cecil county, Md., who emi- grated from England about 1645. He was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, 1807- 10; an apprentice in the bookstore of Samuel Bradford, where he displayed his talent in art; and was sent by the merchants of Philadelphia to England, to study under Benjamin West and Washington AUston. In London he was pa- tronized by the leaders in art and letters; won silver medals at the Roj^al Academy, and painted " The Murder Scene from Macbeth "; '• Sir Roger de Coverley Going to Church " and " May Day in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth." He was made an associate of the Royal Academy in 1821, and a royal academician in 1825. He exhibited " Au- tolycus and Perdita" (1836); " Lady Jane Grey Prevailed on to Accept the Crown " and " Sir Roger de Coverley and the Gypsies" (1829); "Anne Page and Master Slender " and " Uncle Toby and the Widow " (1831). He was professor of drawing in the U.S. Military academy, 1831- 32; and returned to England in 1834, to execute a companion picture to " Sancho Panza and the Duchess." He also painted, "The Introduction of Gulliver to the Queen of Brobdingnag"; " Lady Carlisle Carrying the Pardon to her Father in the Tower"; " The Chaplain's Protest in Don Quix- ote"; " Columbus "; " Don Quixote in the Sierra Morena "; " Sancho Panza"; " The Coronation of Queen Victoria" and "The Christening of the Princess Royal." He tauglit classes in the Royal Academy, 1848-51, and his last picture, " Hotspur and Lady Percy," was exhibited in 1859. Numer- ous of his creations were multiplied and popu- larized by eminent steel-plate engravers, and he was among the first artists to urge that steel- plate engravers be admitted to membership in the Royal Academj\ He was elected a member of the American Pliilosophical society in 1837. His brother, Thomas Jefferson Leslie (born in London, Nov. 2, 1796; died in New York city, Nov. 25, 1874), was graduated from the U.S. military academy, in 1815; was brevetted lieu- tenant-colonel, colonel, and brigadier-general for fifty yearb' service in the pay department, in

1865, and was retired in 1869. His sister, Eliza (born Nov. 16, 1787; died Jan. 2, 1858), was the author of many popular books on domestic eco- nomy. Charles Robert Leslie is the author of: Memoir of John Constable (1848); Hand Book for Young Painters (1855); Autobiograpihical Recol- lections (1860); Life and Times of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1865). He died in Loudon, England, May 5. 1859.

LESLIE, Frank, publisher, was born in Ips- wich, England, March 29, 1821; son of Joseph Carter, a glove manufacturer, and was named Henry Carter. He was educated in Ipswich, England, and was in the employ of his uncle, a drj'-goods merchant in London, 1838-41. Dur- ing this engagement he contributed pen draw- ings to The Illustrated London Neu's, signing them " Frank Leslie." This led to his securing the position of superintendent of the art depart- ment of this periodical, which he held until 1848. Meanwhile he made a study of the publishing business as conducted in London, at the same time gaining a reputation as an expert wood en- graver. He came to the United States in 1848, where he made Frank Leslie his lawful cogno- men. He was emploj-ed on Gleason's Pictorial, Boston, Mass., 1848-49; was superintendent of the engraving department of the Illustrated Neu'S, published by P. T. Barnum, 1850-54, and in 1854 established The Gazette of Fashion and The New York Journal. The first number of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper appeared Dec. 14, 1855, and was profusely illustrated with pictures of current events. He was the first to introduce into his illustrating department the system of separating the block on which the illustration was drawn and assigning each piece to an en- graver, thus insuring the speedy completion of large illustrations. He established The Chimney Comer (1865); The Boys and Girls Weekly (1866); The Chatterbox (1868); The Jolly Joker (1869): Tlte Lady's Journal, a weekly (1870); The Budget of Fnn, a montlily (1872); TJie New World, a weekly (1873); Pleasant Hours (1873); The Pop- idar Monthly (1876); The Sunday Magazine (1878); The Illustrated Almanac and The Comic Almanac. He failed in business in 1877 and from that time until his death directed the business in the interest of his creditors. He received the medal of the American Institute for Wood-En- graving in 1848; was sent as a U.S. commissioner of fine arts to the Paris exposition of 1867, and while in Paris was personally decorated with a medal by Napoleon III. for his services as jury- man. He was also president of the New York state commission to the Centennial exliibition at Philadelphia, in 1876. He was twice married and by his first wife had sons: Henry, Alfred an(K Scipio. He died in NewYork city, Jan. 10, 1880,