Early Life and Education John Leech (1817–1864) was born in London, England, into a family steeped in artistic heritage. His father, Patrick Leech, hailed from Ireland and managed the prestigious London Coffee House on Ludgate Hill—a position reflecting his family’s connections to commerce and social standing. His mother, Eliza Bentley, descended from Richard Bentley, a prominent literary figure 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…