• Name: Leslie, Sir John
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: 17  April  1766
• Death Date: 3  November  1832
• Occupation: mathmetician
• Occupation: writer

This seems certain to be the Leslie that Godwin meets in Edinburgh in 1816 in the company of the publisher Constable. The contacts in 1797, 1798, 1800 etc are more speculative. There is little context for most, but in a few cases there is a clear connection to Wedgewood, who had setttled an annuity on Leslie in 1797 (having employed him as a tutor until 1792). Leslie was based in Scotland but it seems likely he also made trips to London and Staffs in this period. Contacts in 1800 also suggest a link with Wedgewood, as well as Tobin and Coleridge. On balance it seems likely that these early entries for Leslie are to John. The 1820 entries seem more likely to be references to Charles Leslie and have been coded as such.

Godwin's letter, of 2 Jan. 1822, recommending friends in Edinburgh for W H Curran to visit mentions Professor Leslie 'to whom my name would fully serve as a recommendation', indicating - or at least claiming - a certain intimacy. Leslie held a chair in mathematics until 1819 and was then elected to the chair in Natural Philosophy. Leslie was knighted in 1832.

Godwin records his death.

• MS. Abinger c. 13, fols. 2-3: 2 Jan. 1822
• DNB

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.