Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leighton, Henry (d.1669)

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1434555Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 33 — Leighton, Henry (d.1669)1893Gordon Goodwin ‎

LEIGHTON, HENRY (d. 1669), French scholar, a native of Scotland, was chiefly educated in France. In 1642 he bore a commission for the king. On 1 Nov. 1642, when more than seventy persons were created M.A. by command of Charles, Leighton adroitly contrived to obtain the degree by presenting himself at dusk, although his name was not on the list. When the king's cause declined, he settled at Oxford as a teacher of French. He died by falling downstairs in St. John's College, where he had a room allowed him, on 28 Jan. 1668–9, and was buried the next day in St. Giles's Church, Oxford. According to Wood he was a man of debauched character.

He published for the use of his pupils ‘Linguæ Gallicæ addiscendæ Regulæ,’ 8vo, Oxford, 1659; another edition, 1662.

[Wood's Fasti Oxon. (Bliss), ii. 29–30; Wood's Life and Times, ed. Clark (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), ii. 150; Griffiths's Index to Wills at Oxford, p. 38.]

G. G.