| John McLenan | |
| Birth Date: | 1827 |
| Birth Place: | United States |
| Death Place: | United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | A Tale of Two Cities (illustrations) Great Expectations (illustrations) |
| Style: | Illustration, caricature |
John McLenan (1827–1865) was an American illustrator and caricaturist. Active from 1852 to 1865, his works include illustrations of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations for Harper's Weekly (1859 - 1861) and illustrations for two Wilkie Collins novels.[1] Author Sinclair Hamilton wrote of McLenan
Discovered by DeWitt C. Hitchcock working in a pork-packing establishment in Cincinnati and making drawings on the tops of barrels, McLenan became one of the most prolific of our [i. e., America's] early illustrators. . . . . He was also well known as a comic draftsman. His work will bear comparison with the best of his time.[2]
Some of his cartoons make use of the text comics format, making him a pioneer in comics.[3]