A photographic portrait of Hugh Fraser Leslie (1802-1873) taken in 1865 by James Joseph Todd (1834-1904). The image is from the Todd Family Photograph Album held by Aberdeen Local Studies.

Leslie's obituary in the Aberdeen Journal, from 18th June 1873 page 5, describes him as "a man of high culture, a patriotic citizen and a warm-hearted friend." It states that he spent a considerable amount of time in the West Indies where he was a member of the Legislative Council of Jamaica.

He owned a number of coffee plantations in Jamaica that used slave labour. See his entry in the Legacies of British Slave-ownership database here: 'Hugh Fraser Leslie', Legacies of British Slave-ownership database, http://wwwdepts-live.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/42998 [accessed 9th June 2020].

On his return to Aberdeen he is said to have taken a great interest in town and county affairs and made frequent speeches of "a racy and vigorous character". Ill health meant he spend the latter part of his life in greater seclusion.

Location

Aberdeen

Keyword

Portraits

Photographer

James Joseph Todd