Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leahy, Edward Daniel

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1423073Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 32 — Leahy, Edward Daniel1892Freeman Marius O'Donoghue

LEAHY, EDWARD DANIEL (1797–1875), portrait and subject painter, was born in London, doubtless of Irish parentage, in 1797. In 1820 he sent to the Royal Academy a portrait of Mrs. Yates in the character of Meg Merrilies, and became a frequent exhibitor, both there and at the British Institution, of portraits and historical subjects. The Duke of Sussex and the Marquis of Bristol sat to him, and his sitters included, among other prominent Irishmen, the Earl of Rosse, R. L. Sheil, M.P., Sir M. Tierney, M.D., William Cumming, president of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and Father Mathew, the 'Apostle of Temperance.' His subject-pictures included 'Battle of the Nile' and 'Trafalgar.' 1825; 'Mary Stuart's Farewell to France,' 1826 (engraved); 'Jacques and the Wounded Stag,' 1880; 'Escape of Mary Queen of Scots from Loch Leven Castle,' 1887 (painted for Lord Egremont), 'Lady Jane Grey summoned to Execution,' 1844. Between 1837 and 1843 Leahy resided in Italy, and in Rome painted a portrait of John Gibson, R A. Alter his return he exhibited a few Italian subjects, and appeared at the Academy for the last time in 1863. He died at Brighton on 9 Feb. 1875. Leahy's portrait of Father Mathew, painted at Cork in 1846, is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760-1880; Royal Academy and British Institution Catalogues; National Portrait Gallery Cat.]

F. M. O'D.