Tartan Tales of Clan Leslie

Throughout July we have been celebrating all things Clan Leslie. We have met some famous faces, visited many sites, and gained great insight into the history of this ancient clan. Finally, we called upon the valued Clan members to share their stories and we had a great response; read the blog to find out more!

At the start of July 2025, Emily and Carrie enjoyed hosting a pop up at the Clan Leslie Gathering at the Radisson Blu hotel on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. It was the perfect opportunity to talk to the clan, and they were delighted to speak to the Chief, his wife, the Society's Chieftain this year and a few clan members. Watch the short interviews below to hear their stories about being Leslies.

Thanks again to Clan Leslie for their warm welcome and generosity in sharing their time with us.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Jean-François Codomier Leslie and his wife Virginie when we were at the Clan Leslie Gathering 2025.

Beautifully, and proudly, dressed in Leslie Green Modern, the couple had travelled over from France to be with their clan. Don't they look fantastic! 

Jean-François and Virginie in Leslie Green Modern

Clan Leslie Gathering Pop Up in Edinburgh, July 2025

Robert Leslie kindly shared a bit of Leslie history with us on Linkedin recently:

"It's worth mentioning that Sir Andrew de Leslie was one of the forty barons who attached his seal to the Declaration of Arbroath.

Also General Sir Alexander Leslie, first Earl of Leven, first Lord Balgonie, who had a spinal deformity. He became Field Marshal of the Swedish Army during the Thirty Years War appointed by the Lion of the North, Gustavus Adolphus. Perhaps more interesting was that he was the origin of the phrase 'There was a crooked man who walked a crooked mile'."

General Sir Alexander Leslie, first Earl of Leven, first Lord Balgonie

Elizabeth and her brother Jason sent us a short bio of their Clan Leslie ties, which has been wonderful to read. Elizabeth says,

"Our family are the descendants of Capt. Malachi Leslie who was born in 1825 in PA [Pennsylvania]. He was an officer in the Civil War on the Union side. He died in 1868 as a result of exposure during his service.

According to historians, his family arrived in PA soon after the Revolutionary War. However, my grandfather believed this info to be inaccurate and that Malachi’s father fought in the Revolutionary War.

Malachi and wife Martha had 7 sons all of whom had distinguished careers in the Pittsburgh PA area. Their youngest son was Senator Malachi Grant Leslie (my great grandfather) (1864-1933). My grandfather was Artemis Cameron Leslie Sr. (1896-1986) who was the DA [District Attorney] of Pittsburgh PA 1945-1947. He had a distinguished and lengthy career as a lawyer in Pittsburgh.

I have spent some 30 years trying to connect definitively to ancestors in Scotland. I believe our line comes through the James Leslie and Jane Hutchinson lines."

Drawing of Senator Malachi Grant Leslie

"The drawing is of Sen. Malachi "Max" Leslie.  There was a park named for him just outside Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville PA - Leslie Park. It closed in 2003." 

Newspaper ad - Artemas Cameron Leslie Sr

"The second image is a newspaper ad when my grandfather Artemas Cameron Leslie was running for DA reelection in 1947."

Thank you, Elizabeth and Jason, for getting in touch with your Clan Leslie family ties!

Unfortunately July has come to an end, that certainly doesn't mean our love for Clan Leslie is over, so be sure to get in touch with us if you fancy chatting all things Leslie!

Image Source:

General Sir Alexander Leslie by From English Wikipedia. Original upload 16:19, 28 June 2004 by Robi01 (Talk)http://www.futura-dtp.dk/SLAG/images/LeslieAlexander.jpg, Public Domain