Robert Leighton (author) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the author of boys' adventure books. For other people with the same name, see Robert Leighton (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Robert Leighton
Born	(1858-06-05)5 June 1858 Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland
Died	11 May 1934(1934-05-11) (aged 75) Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England
Nationality	Scottish
Occupation	Author, Journalist, Editor
Years active	1880 – 1922
Known for	Writing adventure books for boys
Notable work	The Complete Book of the Dog

Robert Leighton (born June 5, 1858 – died May 11, 1934) was a Scottish writer. He was a journalist, an editor, and an author. He is best known for writing exciting adventure books for boys.

Leighton also worked as an editor for magazines for young people. Through his work, he met his future wife, Marie Connor. She was also a very successful writer. Robert Leighton became an expert on dogs and wrote many books about how to care for them.

Robert Leighton's Early Life
Moving to London and His Career
His Family Life
Robert Leighton's Books and Work
His Final Years

Robert Leighton's Early Life

Robert Leighton was born in Ayr, Scotland. His father, also named Robert Leighton, was a Scottish poet. His mother was Elizabeth Jane Campbell. Young Robert started working as a journalist when he was just 14 years old. His first job was at a magazine called Liverpool Porcupine.

Moving to London and His Career

In 1879, Leighton moved to London. He started working for a popular magazine called Young Folks. He was an assistant editor there. This magazine published famous stories like Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. It also published The Black Arrow. Robert Leighton became the main editor of Young Folks from 1884 to 1885.

While working at Young Folks, he met Marie Connor. She wrote for the magazine. Marie published her first novel when she was 18. In 1886, Leighton left Young Folks. He later returned to London in 1887. He then worked for a big publishing company called Harmsworths.

His Family Life

In 1889, Robert Leighton married Marie Connor. She was already a well-known novelist. Robert started writing his own books, with The Pilots of Pomona in 1892. However, his wife's writing earned more money than his did. Leighton also worked as the literary editor for the Daily Mail newspaper from 1896 to 1899.

The Leightons had four children:

Their first child sadly passed away as a baby.
Roland Aubrey Leighton (1895–1915) was a poet. He was killed during the First World War. He was engaged to a famous writer named Vera Brittain. Roland was his mother's favorite child.
Clare Leighton (1898–1989) became a writer and artist. She wrote novels and a book about her mother. She was also a talented wood engraver.
Evelyn Ivor Robert Leighton (1901–1969) joined the Navy. He had a long career in the navy.

Robert Leighton had severe deafness as he got older. This meant he could write his adventure books while his wife dictated her own stories next to him. His daughter, Clare, remembered that Robert loved his wife very much. He also helped Clare develop her artistic skills.

Robert Leighton's Books and Work

Robert Leighton wrote several types of books:

Adventure stories for boys: These were his most famous works.
Melodramas: He wrote some of these exciting stories with his wife. One well-known book was Convict 99 (1898).
Books about dogs: He became an expert on dogs. His first big dog book was Cassell's New Book of the Dog in 1907.
Short stories and serials: He wrote these for boys' magazines.

He also took on a huge editing job. He helped edit a very long book called Life of Christ by Hall Caine. The book originally had about three million words! Leighton worked to cut it down to about 750,000 words before he passed away.

Illustrations from a Historical Novel

Robert Leighton's novel The Thirsty Sword was a historical story. It was about the Norse invasion of Scotland. The book included illustrations by Alfred Pearse. These pictures helped readers imagine the story and learn history at the same time.

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06 Illustration by Alfred Pearse (1856-1933) for The Thirsty Sword - a story of the Norse invasion of Scotland (1262-1963). by Robert Leighton (1858-1934) - Courtesy of the British Library.jpg

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List of His Books

Here is a list of some of Robert Leighton's longer books.

Details of Book full title, secondary authors and publisher
Serial	Year	Title	Other authors	Publisher
1	1892	The pilots of Pomona: a story of the Orkney Islands		London: Blackie & Son
2	1893	The thirsty sword: a story of the Norse invasion of Scotland (1262-1263)		London: Blackie & Son
3	1894	In the Grip of the Algerine. A historical tale, etc.		London: Sunday School Union
4	1894	Wreck of the Golden Fleece. The story of a North Sea fisher-boy, etc.		London: Blackie & Son
5	1895	Olaf the Glorious: a historical story of the Viking age, etc.		London: Blackie & Son
6	1896	Under the Foeman's Flag: a story of the Spanish Armada, etc.		London: Andrew Melrose
7	1910	The golden galleon: being a narrative of the adventures of Master Gilbert Oglander, and of how, in the year 1591 he fought under the gallant Sir Richard Grenville in the great sea-fight off Flores, on board Her Majesty's ship The Revenge		London: Blackie and Son
8	1898	Convict 99: a true story of penal servitude	Marie Connor	London: Grant Richards
9	1898	The splendid stranger: a story of the Monmouth rebellion		London: The Sunday School Union
10	1901	In the grip of the Corsair: being the personal narrative of Sir Lester Willoughby, Knight		London: Andrew Melrose
11	1901	In the shadow of guilt: a novel	Marie Connor	London: Grant Richards
12	1902	Cap'n Nat's Treasure: a tale of Old Liverpool, etc.		London: S. W. Partridge & Co
13	1902	The Boys of Waveney, etc.		London: Grant Richards
14	1903	Fighting fearful odds, or, The temptations of Jack Rodney		London: Andrew Melrose
15	1903	In the land of the Ju-Ju: a tale of Benin, the city of blood		London: Andrew Melrose
16	1903	The haunted ship: a tale of the Devon smugglers		London: Andrew Melrose
17	1903	The Kidnapping of Peter Cray. A story of the South Seas, etc.		London: Grant Richards
18	1904	Hurrah! for the Spanish Main: a tale of Drake's third voyage to Darien, etc.		London: Andrew Melrose
19	1904	The Other Fellow; or, the Heir from the Colonies, etc.		London: Andrew Melrose
20	1905	The boy and his school: what it can and what it cannot give him		London: J. Murray
21	1905	The green painted ship		London: Andrew Melrose
22	1905	With Nelson in Command: a story of adventure in the battle of the Baltic, etc.		London: Andrew Melrose
23	1906	Gipsy Kit; or the man with the tattooed face		London: S. W. Partridge & Co
24	1906	Monitor at Megson's. A master, a schoolboy and a secret		London: Cassell and Company
25	1907	A bit of a bounder, or, The surreptitious cigarette		London: Sunday School Union
26	1907	The new book of the dog		London: Cassel and Company
27	1909	Gildersley's Tenderfoot. A story of Redskin and prairie		London: C. Arthur Pearson
28	1910	Dogs and all about them		London: Cassell and Company
29	1910	Kiddie of the camp: a story of the western prairies		London: C. Arthur Pearson
30	1910	My Memoirs. [With an introduction by Robert Leighton, and with illustrations.]	Princess Caroline Murat	London: Eveleigh Nash
31	1910	The cleverest chap in the school		London: Jarrold & Sons
32	1911	Coo-ee!: a story of peril and adventure in the South Seas		London: C. Arthur Pearson
33	1911	The kidnapped regiment: a story of 1745		London: Pilgrim Press
34	1911	The perils of Peterkin: a story of adventure in north-west Canada		London: Jarrold & Sons
35	1912	Rattlesnake Ranch. A story of adventure in the great North West		London: C. Arthur Pearson
36	1912	The bravest boy in the camp: a story of adventure on the western prairies		London: Jarrold & Sons
37	1913	Sergeant Silk: the prairie scout		London: Jarrold & Sons
38	1915	The red patrol: a story of the North-West Mounted Police		London: Jarrold & Sons
39	1916	Dreadnoughts of the Dogger: a story of the war on the North Sea		London: Ward, Lock & Co
40	1917	Woolly of the wilds: a story of pluck and adventure in North-West Canada		London: Ward, Lock & Co
41	1920	Kiddie the scout		London: C. Arthur Pearson
42	1922	The complete book of the dog		London: Cassell and Company
43	1922	The white man's trail: a story of adventure and mystery in the Canadian wilds		London: C. Arthur Pearson
44	1923	Sea Scout and Savage, etc.		London: Ward, Lock & Co
45	1923	The Black Prince of Africa. A sketch for boys, etc.		London: United Council for Missionary Education
46	1924	Kiddie the prairie rider		London: C. Arthur Pearson
47	1924	Your dog		London: Cassell and Company
48	1926	Softfoot of Silver Creek		London: Ward, Lock & Co
49	1928	A jewel of the seas		London: John F. Shaw
50	1928	The popular Chow Chow: its history, strains, pedigrees, breeding, character and kennel management		London: Popular Dogs Pub. Co
51	1929	Who killed lord Luxmore?	Marie Connor	London: C. Arthur Pearson
52	1930	The Red Shadow [and other tales]		London: Collins
53	1932	The Dalmatian and all about it	James Saunders	Idle, Bradford: Watmoughts Ltd

Illustrations from an Adventure Story

The Golden Galleon was another adventure story by Leighton. It was illustrated by William Rainey. These pictures helped bring the exciting story to life for young readers.

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Where to Find His Books Online

Many of Robert Leighton's books are available to read for free online. The table below shows which books can be found on different websites.

Details of book length, illustration, and the availability of free online copies.
Serial	Year	Title	Illustrator	Pages	PG	IA	HT	BL
1	1892	The pilots of Pomona	John Leighton	352 p., 9 plates ; 18.3 cm.	Yes	Yes	No	No
2	1893	The thirsty sword	Alfred Pearse	vi, 352, 32 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill., maps ; 20 cm.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
3	1894	In the Grip of the Algerine	Maynard Browne	288 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
4	1894	Wreck of the Golden Fleece	Frank Brangwyn	352 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
5	1895	Olaf the Glorious	Ralph Peacock	350 pages ; (8º); eight ill. and map	Yes	No	Yes	No
6	1896	Under the Foeman's Flag		304 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
7	1898	Convict 99	Stanley Llewellyn Wood	vi, 316 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.	No	No	Yes	Yes
8	1898	The splendid stranger	Sydney Cowell	190, [4] p. : ill. ; 19 cm.	No	No	No	No
9	1901	In the grip of the Corsair	Maynard Browne	288 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
10	1901	In the shadow of guilt	F. C. Luckhurst	vi, 407 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
11	1902	Cap'n Nat's Treasure	J. B. Greene	422 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
12	1902	The Boys of Waveney, etc.	Gordon Browne	323 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
13	1903	Fighting fearful odds	James Ayton Symington	xi, 270, [6] p. : ill. ; 19 cm.	No	No	No	No
14	1903	In the land of the Ju-Ju	Cecil Scruby	viii, 343 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
15	1903	The haunted ship	James Ayton Symington	viii, 310, [2] p. : 6 ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
16	1903	The Kidnapping of Peter Cray	P. Ebbutt	ix, 324 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
17	1904	Hurrah! for the Spanish Main	James Ayton Symington	viii, 312 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
18	1904	The Other Fellow	S. Lumley	xi, 308 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
19	1905	The boy and his school		97 p. ; 20 cm.	No	Yes	No	No
20	1905	The green painted ship		368, [4] p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
21	1905	With Nelson in Command	H. L. Schindler	viii, 340 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
22	1906	Gipsy Kit		128 pages ; (8º); 6 ill.	No	No	No	No
23	1906	Monitor at Megson's	Gordon Browne	vii, 280 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
24	1907	A bit of a bounder	H. L. Schindler	119, viii p. : ill. ; 19 cm.	No	No	No	No
25	1907	Cassell's new book of the dog		2 vols. viii, 467-624 pages, 21 leaves of plates (some colour) ; 29 cm	No	Yes	No	Yes
26	1909	Gildersley's Tenderfoot		cm.20 256 pp. il.	No	No	No	No
27	1910	Dogs and all about them		viii, 344 p., [17] leaves of plates : ill. (one col.) ; 20 cm.	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
28	1910	Kiddie of the camp		256 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
29	1910	My Memoirs		343 pages ; (8º)	No	Yes	Yes	No
30	1910	The cleverest chap in the school	P. A. Staynes	274 p., 4 p. of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.	No	No	No	No
31	1910	The golden galleon	William Rainey	viii, 352, 16 pages, 8 fp illustrations ; 19 cm	Yes	Yes	No	No
32	1911	Coo-ee!		256 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	Yes	No	No
33	1911	The kidnapped regiment	Watson Charlton	vii, 309 p., [5] leaves of plates : ill. (1 col.) ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
34	1911	The perils of Peterkin	Arthur Twidle	247 p., [5] leaves of plates : 5 ill. (1 col.) ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
35	1912	Rattlesnake Ranch		8⁰ 288 p.	No	No	No	No
36	1912	The bravest boy in the camp	Charles Norman	285 p., [5] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
37	1913	Sergeant Silk	Charles Norman	239 p., [5] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.	Yes	Yes	No	No
38	1915	The red patrol	Frank Alcock	348 p., [5] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No
39	1916	Dreadnoughts of the Dogger		304 pages ; (8º)	Yes	No	No	No
40	1917	Woolly of the wilds		303 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.	No	Yes	No	No
41	1920	Kiddie the scout	Frank R. Grey	224 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 20 cm	Yes	Yes	No	No
42	1922	The complete book of the dog		xv, 384 p., [32] leaves of plates : ill. ; 22 cm.	No	Yes	No	Yes
43	1922	The white man's trail	Thomas Sommerfield	256 pages, 8 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations ; 20 cm	No	No	No	No
44	1923	Sea Scout and Savage, etc.		256 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
45	1923	The Black Prince of Africa		14 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
46	1924	Kiddie the prairie rider	Eric R. Parker	224 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 19.5 cm	No	No	No	No
47	1924	Your dog		107 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 18 cm.	No	No	No	No
48	1926	Softfoot of Silver Creek		251 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
49	1928	A jewel of the seas		315 p., [1] leaf of plates : front. ; 20 cm	No	No	No	No
50	1928	The popular Chow Chow: its history, strains, pedigrees, breeding, character and kennel management		163 p. : ills. ; 19 cm.	No	No	No	No
51	1929	Who killed lord Luxmore?		126 pages ; (8º)	No	No	No	No
52	1930	The Red Shadow (and other tales)		(8º)	No	No	No	No
53	1932	The Dalmatian and all about it	James Saunders	83 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.	No	No	No	No

His Final Years

Robert Leighton passed away on May 11, 1934. He was 75 years old. He died in Bishop's Stortford, England. He was survived by his wife, his daughter, and one of his sons.

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