William Murray Leslie (1859–1951) was a physician and barrister-at-law.
He was born in Wester Suddie Farm (now Roskill), Black Isle, Ross-shire and was one of six sons (four of whom entered the medical profession) and one daughter, to Alexander Leslie (1822–1881 and Isabella Christina Murray (1829–1931), both of whom were of Aberdeenshire stock.
Having graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1883, he sought his fortune in England and was, by 1882, a Medical Surgeon’s Assistant in Bolton, Lancashire. He married to his first wife, Jane who was born in Singapore but who was resident in Edinburgh by the time they met.
Leslie was a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (admitted on 15 October 1890; Roll Number 1231). He had obtained College Licentiateship (LRCSEd) earlier that same year. By 1892, he was a member of The Caledonian Medical Society, and was registered at 74 Cadogan Place in London.
A particular claim to fame is that he was the founder and first chairman of Millwall Rovers (which later became Millwall Football Club) on the Isle of Dogs in London in 1885. At this time, he was contributing hugely to East and South London communities, through the organization of many charity initiatives, that were aimed especially to the younger generations living in and around the London Docklands, a particularly poor area during those decades.
He later married Margaret Holland, daughter of William Henry Holland, 1st Baron Rotherham in 1910.
Leslie died aged 92 in 1951, at Grayswood House, Haslemere, Surrey.
Thanks to Mr Andrew Wiseman and Professor Gianluca Sardi for their assistance with the above information.
