James McLevy
Encyclopedia
James McLevy was a prominent detective
in Edinburgh during the mid 19th century, and later an author of popular crime mysteries
. The son of a farmer, he was born in Ballymacnab
in County Armagh
, Ireland
. McLevy later moved to Edinburgh
, Scotland
, and became a builder's labourer before joining the police force in 1830.
In 1833 he became Edinburgh's first detective and handled 2,220 cases during his 30-year career, almost always securing a conviction. His fame was such that the UK Parliament asked for his advice on dealing with criminals and Mary Carpenter
, the great social reformer, quoted him in her paper on dealing with convicts.
McLevy published a series of extremely popular books in the 1860s, including Curiosities of Crime in Edinburgh, Sliding Scale of Life and The Disclosures of a Detective. It is sometimes suggested that his writings helped to inspire Arthur Conan Doyle
.
McLevy sought forensic
advice from members of the medical faculty at the University of Edinburgh
, where Conan Doyle later studied.
In the late 1990s, the James McLevy Trophy, named after him, was donated by former Detective Superintendent John McGowan to recognise outstanding achievement in crime detection in Scotland.
BBC Radio 4 has broadcast several series of dramas starring Brian Cox as McLevy, Siobhan Redmond
as Jean Brash, Michael Perceval-Maxwell as Mulholland and David Ashton
as Lieutenant Roach.
.
Pilot 1999
1st Series 2000
2nd Series 2002
3rd Series 2003
4th Series 2006
5th Series 2009
6th Series 2009/10
7th series 2011
8th series 2011
David Ashton has continued McLevy's story in his 2006 book Shadow of the Serpent (ISBN 1 904598 70 6); Fall From Grace followed the following year (ISBN 1-84697-007-5), and most recently 2009's Trick of the Light (ISBN 1-84697-091-1) was published.
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
in Edinburgh during the mid 19th century, and later an author of popular crime mysteries
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
. The son of a farmer, he was born in Ballymacnab
Ballymacnab
Ballymacnab is a townland and village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the Parish of Cill Chluana, 7 miles south of the City of Armagh on the road towards Newtownhamilton...
in County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. McLevy later moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and became a builder's labourer before joining the police force in 1830.
In 1833 he became Edinburgh's first detective and handled 2,220 cases during his 30-year career, almost always securing a conviction. His fame was such that the UK Parliament asked for his advice on dealing with criminals and Mary Carpenter
Mary Carpenter
Mary Carpenter was an English educational and social reformer. The daughter of a Unitarian minister, she founded a ragged school and reformatories, bringing previously unavailable educational opportunities to poor children and young offenders in Bristol.She published articles and books on her work...
, the great social reformer, quoted him in her paper on dealing with convicts.
McLevy published a series of extremely popular books in the 1860s, including Curiosities of Crime in Edinburgh, Sliding Scale of Life and The Disclosures of a Detective. It is sometimes suggested that his writings helped to inspire Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
.
McLevy sought forensic
Forensics
Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action...
advice from members of the medical faculty at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where Conan Doyle later studied.
In the late 1990s, the James McLevy Trophy, named after him, was donated by former Detective Superintendent John McGowan to recognise outstanding achievement in crime detection in Scotland.
BBC Radio 4 has broadcast several series of dramas starring Brian Cox as McLevy, Siobhan Redmond
Siobhan Redmond
Siobhan Redmond is a Scottish actress.Originally from Tollcross, Glasgow, Redmond's first television appearances were in the early 1980s. Her first TV appearance was in 1982 in a sketch show called "Nothing to worry about!" which then lead to the sketch show Alfresco...
as Jean Brash, Michael Perceval-Maxwell as Mulholland and David Ashton
David Ashton (actor)
David Ashton is a Scottish character actor who played Dr McDuff in the Granada Television Series Brass and Major Roddy Maclean in the Scottish television series Hamish Macbeth in the 1990s....
as Lieutenant Roach.
.
Pilot 1999
- 1. P- 1 Jul 26 99 McLevy (The Afternoon Play)
1st Series 2000
- 2. 1- 1 Dec 21 00 For Unto Us
- 3. 1- 2 Dec 28 00 The Trophy Club
- 4. 1- 3 Jan 04 01 The Second Shadow
- 5. 1- 4 Jan 11 01 The Burning Question
2nd Series 2002
- 6. 2- 1 Jun 19 02 A Good Walk Spoilt
- 7. 2- 2 Jun 26 02 Wild Justice
- 8. 2- 3 Jul 03 02 The Wild Spark
- 9. 2- 4 Jul 10 02 Stab in the Back
3rd Series 2003
- 10. 3- 1 Dec 01 03 Behind the Curtain
- 11. 3- 2 Dec 08 03 A Voice from the Grave
- 12. 3- 3 Dec 15 03 The Dark Shadow
- 13. 3- 4 Dec 22 03 Servant of the Crown
4th Series 2006
- 14. 4- 1 Apr 03 06 A Piece of Cake
- 15. 4- 2 Apr 10 06 The Sea Change
- 16. 4- 3 Apr 17 06 Sins of the Fathers
- 17. 4- 4 Apr 24 06 The Devil's Disguise
- 18. 4- x Dec 25 06 Christmas Special
5th Series 2009
- 19. 5- 1 Jan 27 09 To Keep Him Honest
- 20. 5- 2 Feb 03 09 Picture of Innocence
- 21. 5- 3 Feb 10 09 The Chosen One
- 22. 5- 4 Feb 17 09 The Reckoning
6th Series 2009/10
- 23. 6- 1 Dec 21 09 A Bolt From the Blue
- 24. 6- 2 Dec 28 09 End of the Line
- 25. 6- 3 Jan 04 10 Jack O' Diamonds
- 26. 6- 4 Jan 11 10 Queen of Spades
7th series 2011
- 27. 7- 1 Mar 02 11 The Firebrand
- 28. 7- 2 Mar 09 11 Dead Reckoning
- 29. 7- 3 Mar 16 11 Prince of Darkness
- 30. 7- 4 Mar 23 11 A Distant Death
8th series 2011
- 31. 8- 1 Nov 29 11 The Blue Gown
- 32. 8- 2 Dec 06 11 Flesh and Blood
- 33. 8- 3 Dec 13 11 tba
- 34. 8- 4 Dec 20 11 tba
David Ashton has continued McLevy's story in his 2006 book Shadow of the Serpent (ISBN 1 904598 70 6); Fall From Grace followed the following year (ISBN 1-84697-007-5), and most recently 2009's Trick of the Light (ISBN 1-84697-091-1) was published.
External links
- http://living.scotsman.com/books.cfm?id=603532006Article of 26 April, 2006 in The ScotsmanThe ScotsmanThe Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
] contrasting historical and dramatic figures. - James McLevy Website