Eimer 1206, BHM 1328.
58mm. Silver. By W.Wyon.
Obverse with bust of Telford, reverse showing view of the Menai suspension bridge. Silver band on edge inscribed 'JAMES LESLIE, M. INST. C.E. 1840.'.
Obverse missing glass lunette. Frosted surfaces, obverse Extremely Fine, reverse mint state. Housed in fitted case of issue. Accompanied by 3 other medals awarded to James Leslie; The Royal Scottish Society of Arts 48mm silver award medal dated 1851 and two International Fisheries Exhibition Edinburgh 1882, 45mm silver award medals.
Overall a fantastic and important set of silver medals awarded to a well renowned 19th Century Scottish engineer.
James Leslie FRSE (25 September 1801–29 December 1889) was a Scottish civil engineer specializing in docks, harbours bridges and reservoirs, largely on the east coast of Scotland. He was also an amateur meteorologist.
He obtained a place with James Rennie working in the London Docks and on the London Bridge project. In 1828 he returned to Edinburgh to take a job as Resident Engineer in Leith Docks. In 1830 he lived at 19 Constitution Street in Leith, located close to the main east entrance to the docks (fragments of the house remain). In 1832 he moved to be Resident Engineer of Dundee Harbour. He was assisted in Dundee by Charles Ower. In 1846 he returned to Edinburgh to begin work on several reservoir projects for the Edinburgh Water Company. In 1869 he returned to Dundee to involve in several projects to improve its water supply. In 1858 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being David Stevenson
From 1871 his son Alexander joined his firm and it was thereafter known as J&A Leslie. From 1875 almost all work was done by Alexander. He broke his leg in a carriage accident around 1880 and never fully recovered. He was confined to bed for the last 6 months of his life. In partnership with his son and son-in-law he ran Leslie & Reid from offices at 2 Charlotte Square. He died at home, 11 Portland Place in Leith on 29 December 1889.