Robert Leigh James

Background

Robert Leigh James was born on July 29, 1918 in Worthington, Ohio, United States. His parents were Frank and Jessie (Brummitt) James.

Education

Robert Leigh James attended Indiana University during 1937-1939. He then studied at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1938. He received from the University of Chicago Bachelor of Arts in 1941 and his J.D. in 1947.

Career

Robert Leigh James formerly served as a diplomat in Cuba, then he was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association in 1947. From 1947 to 1950 he served as a U.S. Foreign Service officer.

James became an attorney at Bank of America in 1951-1952. Later, between 1952 and 1958 he worked at California Exploration Co. as land and legal representative.

Robert Leigh James served as vice president at Moa Bay Mining Co., Nicaro Nickel Co., and Island Exploration Co. during 1958-1960. Besides, he was vice president and Washington, District of Columbia, representative of Bank of America National Trust and Savings, San Francisco, California, from 1960.

In addition, Robert Leigh James has used his broad knowledge of politics, business, and the law to create several suspense thrillers. "The Chameleon File" was published in 1967 under the pen name Leigh James. His other novels included "The Capitol Hill Affair" and "The Pushbutton Spy". Moreover, James worked in a different genre, the political melodrama, for his next novel "Penelope’s Zoo" which was published under the author’s full name in 1971. Although James received positive notices for that novel, with his next book "Triple Mirror" (1973) James returned both to his pseudonym and to the spy genre.

James’s next novel appeared six years later; it was "The Caliph Intrigue", a political thriller.

Achievements

• Robert Leigh James is best known as the author of "The Chameleon File", "The Capitol Hill Affair", and "The Pushbutton Spy".

Works

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  • The Capitol Hill Affair 1968
  • The Chameleon File 1967
  • The Pushbutton Spy 1970
  • Penelope's Zoo 1971
  • Janus 1973
  • Triple Mirror 1973

Membership

Robert Leigh James has been a member of the State Bar of California, Illinois Bar Association, Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs, Theta Chi, Nineteen Twenty-Five F Street Club, City Tavern Association, International Club of Washington, Metropolitan Club, Chevy Chase (MD) Club, and University Club (New York City).

Connections

Robert Leigh James married Genevieve Palmer Capouch on October 4, 1942. The couple had a daughter, Alexandra Mary.

Father:

Frank James

Mother:

Jessie (Brummitt) James

Spouse:

Genevieve Palmer Capouch

Daughter:

Alexandra Mary James

References

• Contemporary Authors New Revision Series