John McLenan
John McLenan (1827–1865) was an American illustrator and caricaturist. John McLenan was active from 1852 to 1865, his works include illustrations of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations for Harper's Weekly (1859 - 1861) and illustrations for two Wilkie Collins novels. Author Sinclair Hamilton wrote of McLenan • Discovered by DeWitt C. Hitchcock working in a pork-packing establishment in Cincinnati and making drawings on the tops of barrels, McLenan became one of the most prolific of our [i. e, America's] early illustrators...
John McLenan

John McLenan · http: scanned bu Philip Allingham. · Public domain
- Name
- John McLenan
- Born
- 1827
- Birthplace
- United States
- Died
- 1865
- Known for
- A Tale of Two Cities (illustrations) Great Expectations (illustrations)
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- artist.
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Documentary summary
John McLenan (1827–1865) was an American illustrator and caricaturist. John McLenan was active from 1852 to 1865, his works include illustrations of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations for Harper's Weekly (1859 - 1861) and illustrations for two Wilkie Collins novels. Author Sinclair Hamilton wrote of McLenan • Discovered by DeWitt C. Hitchcock working in a pork-packing establishment in Cincinnati and making drawings on the tops of barrels, McLenan became one of the most prolific of our [i. e, America's] early illustrators...
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q6248088 · wikipedia · John McLenan
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was also well known as a comic draftsman. His work will bear comparison with the best of his time. • Illustration — "And may I--May I--?" Some of his cartoons make use of the text comics format, making him a pioneer in comics.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — John McLenan • Born — 1827 • Birthplace — United States • Died — 1865 • Place of death — United States • Known for — A Tale of Two Cities (illustrations) Great Expectations (illustrations) • Style — Illustration, caricature
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1827
John McLenan was born on 1 January 1827.
1865
John McLenan died on 1 January 1865.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
John McLenan was born in United States.
Birthplace
John McLenan died in United States.
Deathplace
United States.
Birth place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6248088: John McLenan
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “John McLenan”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
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Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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