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Robert Leighton (author) facts for kids

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Robert Leighton
Born (1858-06-05)5 June 1858
Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland
Died 11 May 1934(1934-05-11) (aged 75)
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 (5 June 1858 – 11 May 1934) was a Scottish journalist, editor, and author of boys' fiction. He was an editor of juvenile magazines, and through his work at Young Folks he met his future wife Marie Connor, a prolific author in her own right. Leighton became an expert on dogs and their care and produced many works on this topic.

Early life

Leighton was born in the town of Ayr in Scotland on 5 June 1858 to Robert Leighton, a Scottish poet (20 February 1822 – 10 May 1869), and Elizabeth Jane Campbell (1820 – 1914). Some sources, such as the British Library give his year of birth as 1859. Others, including Sutherland, give it at 1858. However, his father only worked in Ayr from 1854 to 1858 for a Liverpool seed merchant, and the only male Leighton born in the District of Ayr from 1854-1864 was an unnamed son to Leighton's parents on 5 June 1858.

In the 1861 Census, Leighton was living in Liverpool, where his father was employed by a seed and agricultural supplies merchant. He was educated in the school attached to the Hope Street Unitarian Chapel in Liverpool. He began work as a journalist at age 14, working first for the Liverpool Porcupine, a social and satirical journal.

Moving to London

Leighton moved to London in 1879 and began working for Young Folks magazine as an assistant editor. Young Folks accepted Treasure Island from Robert Louis Stevenson and ran it as a serial from 1881 – 1882 while he was first assistant editor. Young Folks also serialised The Black Arrow in June – October 1883. Leighton was the editor from 1884 to 1885.

While he was at Young Folks, he met the tempestuous Marie Connor, who contributed to the magazine. She published her first novel Beauty's Queen, a three-volume melodrama, in 1884 when she was 18. In 1886 Leighton left Little Folks to move to the Bristol Observer, but returned to London in 1887.

In London, he eventually found work with the Harmsworths, and was a director of their Answers Ltd company from 1893–1896.

Marriage and family

In 1889, Leighton eloped with Marie Connor (February 1866 – 28 January 1941), the adopted daughter of James Nenon Alexander Connor, formerly a captain in the 87th Foot, and the daughter of Elizabeth Ann Harris (1849 – 16 APR 1908), a widow, born Trelawny. The couple were married at Marylebone in the first quarter of 1889. Marie was an established novelist at this stage, publishing her sixth book in the year of her marriage.

Leighton began to produce books himself, starting with The Pilots of Pomona in 1892, but throughout the marriage, his wife's income from writing far exceeded his. Leighton was the literary editor of the Daily Mail from 1896 – 1899.

The Leightons had four children:

  • Their first child was accidentally smothered in infancy by a nurse.
  • Roland Aubrey Leighton (27 March 1895 – 23 December 1915), a poet who was killed in the First World War. He was Vera Brittain's fiancé and features largely in Testament of Youth, the first instalment of her memoirs. He was his mother's favourite. "He is the only one of my children who is beautiful enough to be worth dressing" her daughter reports her as saying. Marie was devastated when Roland was killed and published an anonymous memoir of him as Boy of My Heart in 1916.
  • Clare Leighton (12 April 1898 – 4 November 1989), a writer and artist. She wrote several novels as well as the biography of her mother, and was a noted wood engraver. Marie was dismissive of her looks, ambitions and talents.
  • Evelyn Ivor Robert Leighton (31 May 1901 – 21 October 1969) was destined from boyhood for the Navy. He enjoyed a long naval career, being posted to the Royal Australian Navy for a while, and married an English bride while he was there.

Leighton's day-to-day influence on the household was limited by his deafness. He was so deaf by the time his children were growing up, that he was able to write his adventure books sitting next to his wife while she dictated her next melodrama. Leighton was older and wiser than Marie, and helped Clare's artistic development. His daughter recalls that Leighton adored his wife and that he had something of a cherishing paternal attitude towards her.

Work

Leighton produced four types of output:

  • Adventure stories for boys.
  • Melodramas written together with his wife. the most famous of these was Convict 99 (1898).
  • Books about dogs starting with Cassell's two-volume New Book of the Dog in 1907.
  • Short stories and serials for boys' papers.

One enormous job he did undertake was the editing of Hall Caine's Life of Christ. When he began this work, the book had some three-million words. Leighton managed to reduce this to some 750,000 before his death in 1934. It was eventually published in 1938, but Leighton's contribution was not mentioned by Caine's sons in their introduction to the work.

Example of illustrations from a historical novel by Leighton

The following illustrations by Alfred Pearse (1856 – 1933) for The Thirsty Sword - a story of the Norse invasion of Scotland (1262-1263) give an idea of the pacing of Leighton's writing in a novel which was meant to teach history as well as entertain.

List of long works

The following is a list, drawn from the Jisc Library Hub Discover collated catalogue.

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

Further details on long works. The columns PG, IA, HT, and BL indicate if online texts are available at:

Example of illustrations from an adventure story by Leighton

While still set in a historical tale, The Golden Galleon was more of an adventure story than a history lesson. It was illustrated by William Rainey.

Availability of free online copies of works by Leighton

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 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 83 p. : ill. ; 20 cm. No No No No

Shorter Works

Leighton published both short stories and serials in publications such as Cheer, Boys, Cheer, Boys Realm, Boys Herald, Comic Cuts, Chums, and Scout.

Death

Leighton died age 75 in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire on 11 May 1934. He was survived by his widow, daughter and a son. His estate was valued at only £286.

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