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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. James Francis Leighton

Mr. James Francis Leighton was born in the parish of Clerkenwell, London, on the 19th of April, 1830, and was educated at a private school. At the age of ten years he entered the employment of the well-known firm, Messrs Eyre and Spottiswoode, Printers to the Queen, and during the succeeding four years acquired some experience of the business he was destined to follow. He was afterwards apprenticed to his cousins, then trading under the title of Messrs Leighton and Son, bookbinders, of the Strand, London, but now well-known as partners in the firm of Messrs Leighton, Son and Hodge, of Shoe Lane, Fleet Street. Here he was thoroughly taught every branch of the bookbinding trade, the usual rule of keeping apprentices to one branch only being departed from in his favour. On emerging from his apprenticeship in 1851, Mr. Leighton was engaged by Messrs Samuel Bagster and Son of “Polyglot Bible” fame, and when with that firm, he was occupied in the binding of special editions of the Bible for the Royal Courts of Europe. Subsequently, when in the employment of Messrs Eeles and Sons, of Chancery Lane, he was engaged on the first issue of Dickens' works. Mr. Leighton left London in 1853, by the ship “Investigator,” and arrived in Sydney in August of that year. He was immediately engaged by the Church Press Office to inaugurate a bindery department, and remained in that position till 1855, but despite excellent inducements to stay longer, he found it necessary to seek a cooler climate, and acceded to the wishes of the proprietors of the Auckland “Southern Cross” by entering into a contract for the execution of their binding. Mr. Leighton arrived in Auckland by the “William Denny,” on the 10th of May, 1855, and began business in Shortland Street. It was afterwards that he secured his present premises in High Street. While Auckland remained the capital, Mr. Leighton was bookbinder for the Government, and also held the contract for the supply of stationery, etc., to the Imperial troops, during the Maori war. This latter fact, however, did not prevent him from occasionally serving his country as a volunteer in the days of the trouble. On the removal of the Government to Wellington, Mr. Leighton was urged to follow, but for domestic and other reasons he decided to remain in Auckland. Although a prominent and worthy citizen, Mr. Leighton has abstained from active participation in public affairs. He is still in the enjoyment of excellent health, but lives very quitly and supervises the practical part of the business. It is worthy of note that Mr. Leighton was the first to introduce ruling machines into the colony more than thirty years ago.