American soldier, born near Boonesboro, KY, on the 28th of November 1793. Leslie was the twelfth child of a Virginia farmer, who, in 1782, settled in the wilds of Kentucky. At 19 years of age he entered the army. On June 2, 1813, he was made captain of spies in a regiment of Kentucky volunteers. During a conflict at Fort Miami, on May 5th he was wounded. After peace was declared, Coombs read law, and later pursued a successful practice. In 1836, during the Texas struggle with Mexico, he raised a regiment of volunteers. In succession he became state auditor, and for several terms was elected to the legislature. During the campaign of General Harrison for the Presidency, Coombs became an active stump speaker, and as such was engaged in several Western and Southwestern states. In this department he had few rivals; to hear him was to believe in him. When the war with Mexico began, he was active in raising volunteers in Kentucky. In 1844 he made many speeches in favor of Henry Clay, the Whig nominee for the Presidency. In 1860 he was chosen clerk of the Kentucky court of appeals. During the Civil War, General Coombs was ardently devoted to the cause of the Union. His last years were spent in retirement. He died in Lexington, KY, on the 21st of August 1881.
