Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jones, Leslie Grove
JONES, LESLIE GROVE (1779–1839), soldier and political writer, was born at Bearfield, near Bradford in Wiltshire, 4 June 1779. His father, John Jones of Frankley, near Bradford, was inspector of the board of works and died in 1807. Jones when young entered the navy; but while a midshipman on the Revolutionnaire he incurred censure for interfering on behalf of the cook, who was, in his opinion, flogged unjustly, and he quitted the navy in consequence. The Marquis of Lansdowne offered him a commission in the guards, and he became ensign 25 Nov. 1796, lieutenant and captain 25 Nov. 1799, brevet-major 4 June 1811, captain and lieutenant-colonel 21 Jan. 1813. He served throughout the Peninsular war, and was commandant at Brussels before Waterloo. While with the army of occupation at Cambrai he employed his leisure during the winter of 1817 in writing a pamphlet upon the 'Principles of Legitimacy,' which was published in 1827. After his retirement from the army he took a keen interest in polities, and when the reform agitation was in progress gained much notoriety by his violent letters in the 'Times' signed 'Radical.' He intended to stand for the new borough of St. Marylebone in 1832, but withdrew at the last, perhaps, as the 'Age' suggests, from want of means. Jones died in Buckingham Street, Strand, 12 March 1839, and was buried at Kensal Green. A portrait engraved by Phillips appeared in the 'Union Magazine' for February 1832. Jones married, first, Jean, youngest daughter of Patrick Miller of Dalswinton—she died 29 Oct. 1833, leaving two sons; secondly, on 28 March 1838, Anna Maria, second daughter of William Davies Shipley, who survived him.
[Age and Times, 1821-3; Gent. Mag. 1839, i. 541; Greville Memoirs, ed. Reeve, 1st ser. ii. 200; Men of the Reign.]