John Leonard was a Tyneside radical poet and songwriter of the early 19th century.
It is thought that John Leonard was born in Gateshead, County Durham, but very little is known about him, or his life.
[1][2] His father, George, was a gardener and was a described as "a man of some means" owning some property in either Jackson’s Chare or more likely Leonard’s Court (both long since demolished), near Gateshead High Street.
There is no further record of the offence, place or time, but as he was a radical, and was in favour of Irish Nationalism, writing a poem in praise of Charles James Fox and another denouncing William Pitt, it was possible brought about by his actions over this point.
His output was considerable and included were :- A volume of manuscripts of his poetry written c1813 and of between three or four hundred pages, is kept in the Reference Library, Newcastle.