Leslie Allen

Background

Allen was born in Maryborough, Victoria, the second son of William Allen, a Congregational minister and the older brother of Sir Carleton Allen.

Education

He was eleven when his family moved to Sydney where he attended Newington College (1894–1899). He later attended the University of Sydney and the University of Leipzig.

Career

He was Professor of English at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, the senior lecturer of English and Latin at Canberra University College and chairman of the Literature Board. In 1911, Allen was appointed as a senior lecturer in classics and English at Sydney Teachers College. In 1931, he became the sole lecturer in English and classics at Canberra University College (now the Australian National University).

From 1937 he was chairman the Literature Board from 1937.

Achievements

• The Haydon-Allen Lecture Theatre is in part a memorial to his work at the Australian National University.

Membership

Allen was appointed in 1933 as a member of the Commonwealth Book Advisory Committee.