LEE, SOPHIA (1750-1824), LEE, HARRIET (1757-1851).—­Novelists and dramatists, dau. of John L., an actor, were the authors of various dramatic pieces and novels.  By far their most memorable work was The Canterbury Tales, 5 vols. (1797-1805) which, with the exception of two, The Young Lady’s and The Clergyman’s, were all by Harriet.  The most powerful of them, Kruitzner, fell into the hands of Byron in his boyhood, and made so profound an impression upon him that, in 1821, he dramatised it under the title of Werner, or the Inheritance.  The authoress also adapted it for the stage as The Three Strangers.  The tales are in general remarkable for the ingenuity of their plots.  Harriet lived to the age of 94, preserving to the last her vigour of mind and powers of conversation.  Godwin made her an offer of marriage to which, however, his religious opinions presented an insuperable barrier.  Sophia’s chief work was The Chapter of Accidents, a comedy, which had a great run, the profits of which enabled the sisters to start a school at Bath, which proved very successful, and produced for them a competence on which they were able to retire in their later years.

LE FANU, JOSEPH SHERIDAN (1814-1873).—­Novelist, s. of a Dean of the Episcopal Church of Ireland, and grand-nephew of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, was ed. at Trinity Coll., Dublin, and became a contributor and ultimately proprietor of the Dublin University Magazine, in which many of his novels made their first appearance.  Called to the Bar in 1839, he did not practise, and was first brought into notice by two ballads, Phaudrig Croohoore and Shamus O’Brien, which had extraordinary popularity.  His novels, of which he wrote 12, include The Cock and Anchor (1845), Torlough O’Brien (1847), The House by the Churchyard (1863), Uncle Silas (perhaps the most popular) (1864), The Tenants of Malory (1867), In a Glass Darkly (1872), and Willing to Die (posthumously).  They are generally distinguished by able construction, ingenuity of plot, and power in the presentation of the mysterious and supernatural.  Among Irish novelists he is generally ranked next to Lever.

LEIGHTON, ROBERT (1611-1684).—­Divine, was the s. of Alexander L., physician, and writer on theology, who, on account of his anti-prelatic books, was put in the pillory, fined, and had his nose slit and his ears cut off.  Robert was ed. at Edin., after which he resided for some time at Douay.  Returning to Scotland he received Presbyterian ordination, and was admitted minister of Newbattle, near Edin.  In 1653 he was appointed Principal and Prof. of Divinity in the Univ. of Edin., which offices he held until 1662 when, having separated himself from Presbyterianism, he was appointed Bishop of Dunblane, under the new Episcopal establishment.  He repeatedly but unsuccessfully endeavoured to bring