John Leech watercolor sketches

John Leech (1817–1864) was an English caricaturist known for his contributions to Punch the weekly humor and satire magazine, as well as the first illustrator of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. Leech was born in London in 1817, the son of the landlord of the London Coffee House on Ludgate Hill. He studied at Charterhouse School, where he met his life-long friend, the novelist, William Makepeace Thackeray. He continued his studies of medicine, at the age of sixteen, at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, before leaving his studies to pursue an artistic profession. His first publication was 'Etchings and Sketchings, By A Pen, Esq.' (1835) and he joined Punch in 1841, regularly contributing to the magazine until his death. His illustrations included political cartoons, social caricature, scenes of everyday life and sporting works. Aside from Punch, he contributed to many other illustrated periodicals including The New Monthly Magazine, The Illuminated Magazine, The Illustrated London News and The Field. He died at the age of forty-seven in London.





Resources

"Leech, John." Benezit Dictionary of Artists. 31 Oct. 2011; Accessed 11 Jul. 2025. https://www.oxfordartonline.com/benezit/view/10.1093/benz/9780199773787.001.0001/acref-9780199773787-e-00106434.

“John Leech.” Encyclopedia Britannica, revised March 21, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Leech.

“John Leech.”Lambiek Comiclopedia. Lambiek, revised October 6, 2024. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/leech_john.htm.