Percival Leigh

Educated for the medical profession at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, Percival Leigh qualified as a surgeon before leaving medicine behind for literary work. He became one of the founding contributors to Punch and later served as deputy to its editor, Mark Lemon.

Leigh was known for light, clever satire and for collaborations with major illustrators of the day, including John Leech and Richard Doyle. His books included comic takes on learning and language, and his long connection with Punch made him one of the magazine’s most familiar early voices.

He remained associated with Punch for decades and was remembered as the last surviving member of its original contributors. For listeners interested in Victorian humor, his work offers a lively mix of parody, observation, and good-natured mischief.