Born in Co. Donegal, Ireland in 1922, Frederick Leahy prepared for the ministry at the Free Church College, Edinburgh, and Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids. Ordained in Finaghy Evangelical Church in 1949, he joined the Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1953 and served three of its congregations until his retirement in 1988.

In 1967 his gifts as a theological teacher were recognized by his denomination in his appointment to the chair of Systematic Theology, Apologetics and Christian Ethics in the Reformed Theological College, Belfast. He also served as Principal of the College from 1993 to 2002.

His books – Banner titles being The Cross He Bore, Satan Cast Out, The Victory of the Lamb, Is It Nothing to You? and The Hand of God – into which he poured his love for the Lord and the gospel, and his skill as an evangelist and communicator, will endure. Professor Leahy died in January 2006, very soon after posting the manuscript of The Hand of God to the Banner office. He was 83.