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Sir John Leslie, 4th Bt | |
|---|---|
 Sir Jack Leslie in June 2009 | |
| Born | John Norman Ide Leslie 6 December 1916 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | 18 April 2016 (aged 99) |
| Occupation(s) | Soldier, baronet, television presenter |
Captain Sir John Leslie, 4th Baronet
editCaptain Sir John Norman Ide Leslie, 4th Baronet (6 December 1916 – 18 April 2016), also known as Jack Leslie, was an Anglo-Irish baronet, soldier, and television presenter. He was the eldest son of Sir John Randolph Leslie, 3rd Baronet (also known as Shane Leslie), and Marjorie Ide. He inherited the baronetcy following his father's death in 1971.[1]
Early life and education
editLeslie was born in New York City, New York, on 6 December 1916. He was educated at Downside School and later attended Magdalene College, Cambridge. Throughout his life, he maintained close ties to both his Anglo-Irish heritage and his American roots through his mother, Marjorie Ide, who was the daughter of General Henry Clay Ide, former Governor-General of the Philippines.[2]
Military career
editDuring World War II, Leslie served as an officer in the Irish Guards. He fought in the Battle of France but was captured by German forces at Boulogne-sur-Mer, spending five years in various prisoner-of-war (POW) camps. His military service earned him recognition, including the Legion d'Honneur, which was presented to him at the French embassy in Dublin on 9 November 2015.[1]
Postwar life
editAfter the war, Leslie relocated to New York City and later spent time traveling throughout Europe, eventually settling in Rome. At the age of 78, he returned to his family's ancestral home, Castle Leslie, in Ireland. In 2001, he celebrated his 85th birthday in Ibiza. Leslie gained some notoriety in 2002 when he inadvertently revealed the secret wedding location of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills at Castle Leslie.[3]
Leslie also became known for his appearances on television. In 2012, he was featured in the program Secrets of the Manor House, which explored the history of British and Irish manor homes, including Castle Leslie. In 2015, he appeared in the TV series Tales of Irish Castles.
Personal life and legacy
editA lifelong bachelor, Leslie was openly homosexual.[4] He never married and had no children. He passed away in April 2016 at the age of 99. As of 9 August 2023, the Leslie baronetcy is listed as "Dormant."
In 2006, he published his autobiography titled Never A Dull Moment, recounting his varied life experiences, from his war service to his post-war adventures and later life at Castle Leslie.[5]
Family
editLeslie was the eldest son of Sir John Randolph Leslie, 3rd Baronet and Marjorie Ide. He had an elder sister and a younger brother:[6]
- Anita Theodosia Moira Rodzianko King (21 November 1914 – 5 November 1985), a novelist and biographer. She was married (secondly) to Commander Bill King, a World War II submarine commander and yachtsman. They had two children.
- Desmond Arthur Peter Leslie (29 June 1921 – 21 February 2001), a pilot, filmmaker, writer, and musician. He was married twice and had five children.
- Sammy Leslie, his niece, is a hotelier and media personality, and the daughter of Desmond Leslie.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Sir John Leslie: Irish WW2 veteran awarded France's top military honour". BBC News. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Irish WWII veteran dies aged 99 / Sunday World". 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Second world war veteran Sir John Leslie dies aged 99". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ Meacham, Steve (2 July 2018). "Castle Leslie, County Monaghan Ireland: The beautiful Irish castle that's played host to a series of misfits". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ "Sir John Leslie, Bt – obituary". The Telegraph. 20 April 2016. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Cormac (18 April 2016). "Castle Leslie owner Sir John 'Jack' Leslie has died aged 99". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
External links
edit- Profile, imdb.com; accessed 19 April 2016.
- Castle Leslie profile, castleleslie.com