John Leslie-Melville, 12th Earl of Leven

Leslie-Melville was born on 5 April 1886. He was the eldest son of Ronald Leslie-Melville, 11th Earl of Leven and the former Emma Selina Portman (1863–1941). His siblings were Hon. Archibald Alexander Leslie-Melville, Capt. Hon. David William Leslie-Melville, Lt.-Col. Hon. Ian Leslie-Melville, and Lady Constance Betty Leslie-Melville. His paternal grandparents were John Thornton Leslie-Melville, 9th Earl of Leven and the former Sophia Thornton (a daughter of abolitionist Henry Thornton MP). His maternal grandfather was Henry Portman, 2nd Viscount Portman. ==Career==

Lord Leven was a Lieutenant in the Lovat Scouts Yeomanry in the British Army. He served as a Scottish representative peer from 1910 until his death in June 1913. he succeeded as the Viscount of Kirkaldie, the Lord Raith, Monymaill and Balwearie, the Earl of Melville, the Earl of Leven, the Lord Melville of Monymaill, the Lord Balgonie. ==Personal life==

Lord Leven died, unmarried, on 11 June 1913, "caused by injuries sustained in the hunting field", which was later determined to be "an accidental death". His funeral was held in Scotland, and his titles passed to his younger brother, Archibald. The death duties of over $600,000 were met by the insurance taken out upon his succession to the title. Lord Leven was left behind when his regiment retreated and later escaped from a German prison disguised as a refugee. ==References==