Leslie Large

Leslie Large
Large with his first son, c. 1894
Born(1864-03-23)23 March 1864
Camberwell, Surrey, England
Died14 September 1896(1896-09-14) (aged 32)
Edinburgh, Scotland
OccupationVegetarianism advocate
Known forFounding the Vegetarian Cycling Club
Spouse
Anna Pashley
​
(m. 1890)​
Children3
Signature

Leslie Large (23 March 1864 – 14 September 1896) was an English vegetarianism advocate. He founded the Vegetarian Cycling Club (later the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club) and the Vegetarian Rambling Club, was honorary secretary of the South East London Vegetarian Society, and served on the executive committee of the National Food Reform Society.

Biography

Large was born on 23 March 1864 in Camberwell, Surrey, to Edward James Large and Elizabeth Large. He became a vegetarian for humanitarian reasons and was active in the vegetarian movement in London. He served on the executive committee of the National Food Reform Society.

In September 1887, Large placed notices in several periodicals inviting other vegetarian cyclists to contact him about forming a club. The Vegetarian Cycling Club (later the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club) held its first formal meeting in London on 9 October 1888. Large was elected its first secretary, and Arnold Hills became its first president.

Large also founded the Vegetarian Rambling Club in 1889 to promote vegetarianism; it later became a social club for members. He served as honorary secretary of the South East London Vegetarian Society. He wrote The True Purpose of Animals, which was first published in The Vegetarian in 1891 and later issued as a pamphlet.

In 1890, he married Anna Pashley at Saint James, Hatcham. They had three sons.

Large died from diphtheria in Edinburgh on 14 September 1896, aged 32, after an illness of about four days. After his death, the Leslie Large Fund was established to furnish a small "Leslie" ward at the Oriolet in his memory.

Publications

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Oriolet was the Oriolet Hospital and Convalescent Home, a hospital for sick vegetarians founded by Arnold Hills in 1895.

References

  1. ↑ "Leslie Large". England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FamilySearch. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Births Mar 1864: Large, Leslie". FreeBMD. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Gregory, James Richard Thomas Elliott (May 2002). "Biographical Index of British Vegetarians and Food reformers of the Victorian Era" (PDF). The Vegetarian Movement in Britain, c. 1840–1901: A Study of its Development, Personnel and Wider Connections (PDF) (PhD). University of Southampton. p. 71.
  4. ↑ "Club History". Vegetarian Cycling & Athletic Club. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Gregory, James Richard Thomas Elliott (May 2002). "Vegetarian Rambling Club". The Vegetarian Movement in Britain, c. 1840–1901: A Study of its Development, Personnel and Wider Connections (PDF) (PhD). University of Southampton. p. 329.
  6. ↑ "The True Purpose of Animals". The Vegetarian. IV (49): 624. 5 December 1891.
  7. 1 2 3 "Death of Mr. Leslie Large". The Vegetarian. IX (39): 466. 26 September 1896.
  8. ↑ "Leslie Large". London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Oriolet Hospital and Convalescent Home". London Remembers. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Leslie Large Fund". The Vegetarian. IX (41): 489. 10 October 1896.