Percival Leigh
Percival Leigh was an English satirist, comic writer, and a founding contributor to the influential Victorian humor magazine Punch.
- Lived
- 1813–1889
- Nationality
- English
- Era
- Victorian
- Language
- English
Percival Leigh (1813–1889) was an English satirist and comic writer who played a significant role in the landscape of nineteenth-century British humor. He is chiefly remembered as one of the pioneering founding contributors to Punch, the landmark weekly magazine of humor and satire. Through his work with the publication, Leigh helped establish a new standard for social and political commentary during the Victorian era.\n\nDuring his tenure at the magazine, Leigh held a position of considerable editorial responsibility, serving as the deputy to Punch's influential founding editor, Mark Lemon. In this capacity, Leigh was instrumental in guiding the publication's content and maintaining its distinctive satirical voice. His writing frequently complemented the visual art of the period, and he collaborated closely with several of the era's most celebrated cartoonists and illustrators, including John Leech and Richard Doyle.\n\nLeigh's association with Punch spanned several decades, making him an enduring figure in the history of British journalism. Upon his passing in 1889, he was celebrated as the last surviving member of the magazine's original cohort of contributors, representing a final living link to the publication's historic beginnings.