John Leech (1817–1864) John Leech was born in London, United Kingdom, on August 29th, 1817. His father, a native of Ireland, managed the London Coffee House on Ludgate Hill—a place renowned for its intellectual atmosphere and frequented by prominent figures of the time. His mother descended from the family of Richard Bentley, a celebrated scholar and publisher whose influence extended throughout Victorian England. From an early age, Leech demonstrated exceptional artistic talent; at just three years old, sculptor John Flaxman recognized his drawing prowess and passionately encouraged him to…