diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
index 9c585d0c7d6f..da2cff90f38f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
@@ -385,7 +385,6 @@ def post_processing(image, dpi):
                                       image)
 
 
-
 def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Create a new figure manager instance
@@ -396,7 +395,14 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
 
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasAgg(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasAgg(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerBase(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
index eeb91713d6f4..3694d521542f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
@@ -397,10 +397,17 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs): # called by backends/__init__.py
     """
     Create a new figure manager instance
     """
-    if _debug: print('%s.%s()' % (self.__class__.__name__, _fn_name()))
+    if _debug: print('%s.%s()' % (_fn_name()))
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas  = FigureCanvasCairo(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas  = FigureCanvasCairo(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerBase(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
index 7a21f079833a..e4743cec9eda 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
@@ -35,12 +35,21 @@
 
 mplBundle = NSBundle.bundleWithPath_(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 
+
 def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass( *args, **kwargs )
-    canvas = FigureCanvasCocoaAgg(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasCocoaAgg(figure)
     return FigureManagerCocoaAgg(canvas, num)
 
+
 ## Below is the original show() function:
 #def show():
 #    for manager in Gcf.get_all_fig_managers():
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py
index 580798f641f0..cf112b848b40 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_emf.py
@@ -688,7 +688,14 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     # main-level app (egg backend_gtk, backend_gtkagg) for pylab
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasEMF(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasEMF(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerEMF(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py
index fe31d0f81191..13900b7c9071 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_fltkagg.py
@@ -78,6 +78,13 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     figure = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
     window = Fltk.Fl_Double_Window(10,10,30,30)
     canvas = FigureCanvasFltkAgg(figure)
     window.end()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
index 7d7f7e323d20..a94ca1fd11d0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gdk.py
@@ -422,11 +422,15 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas  = FigureCanvasGDK(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas  = FigureCanvasGDK(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerBase(canvas, num)
-    # equals:
-    #manager = FigureManagerBase (FigureCanvasGDK (Figure(*args, **kwargs),
-    #                             num)
     return manager
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index b7199890225a..7cebe9877c04 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -90,10 +90,15 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasGTK(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasGTK(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerGTK(canvas, num)
-    # equals:
-    #manager = FigureManagerGTK(FigureCanvasGTK(Figure(*args, **kwargs), num)
     return manager
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
index da14f356ba0a..fcf9a7914f2d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
@@ -78,7 +78,14 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Agg(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Agg(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerGTK3Agg(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
index 21abae2a4762..bf3e34d09142 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
@@ -45,7 +45,14 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Cairo(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Cairo(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerGTK3Cairo(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
index c8f359f8c0f6..5abc56b3612d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ def _get_toolbar(self, canvas):
             toolbar = None
         return toolbar
 
+
 def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Create a new figure manager instance
@@ -40,10 +41,18 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     if DEBUG: print('backend_gtkagg.new_figure_manager')
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasGTKAgg(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasGTKAgg(figure)
     return FigureManagerGTKAgg(canvas, num)
     if DEBUG: print('backend_gtkagg.new_figure_manager done')
 
+
 class FigureCanvasGTKAgg(FigureCanvasGTK, FigureCanvasAgg):
     filetypes = FigureCanvasGTK.filetypes.copy()
     filetypes.update(FigureCanvasAgg.filetypes)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
index 616a3dc8ba71..baa51c54e438 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
@@ -26,7 +26,14 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     if _debug: print('backend_gtkcairo.%s()' % fn_name())
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasGTKCairo(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasGTKCairo(figure)
     return FigureManagerGTK(canvas, num)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index 7e402c302392..694baf8ec886 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -233,9 +233,20 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     if not _macosx.verify_main_display():
         import warnings
-        warnings.warn("Python is not installed as a framework. The MacOSX backend may not work correctly if Python is not installed as a framework. Please see the Python documentation for more information on installing Python as a framework on Mac OS X")
+        warnings.warn("Python is not installed as a framework. The MacOSX "
+                      "backend may not work correctly if Python is not "
+                      "installed as a framework. Please see the Python "
+                      "documentation for more information on installing "
+                      "Python as a framework on Mac OS X")
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     figure = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
     canvas = FigureCanvasMac(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerMac(canvas, num)
     return manager
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
index 4cd830829eff..2e3e7bccf9ef 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
@@ -2171,7 +2171,14 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     # main-level app (egg backend_gtk, backend_gtkagg) for pylab
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasPdf(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasPdf(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerPdf(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
index 2af23224f145..6ca5df558e37 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
@@ -944,7 +944,14 @@ def shouldstroke(self):
 def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasPS(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasPS(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerPS(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index 6acca884e6a0..8aae6b18bfde 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -69,9 +69,16 @@ def new_figure_manager( num, *args, **kwargs ):
     Create a new figure manager instance
     """
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
-    thisFig = FigureClass( *args, **kwargs )
-    canvas = FigureCanvasQT( thisFig )
-    manager = FigureManagerQT( canvas, num )
+    thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasQT(figure)
+    manager = FigureManagerQT(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index 45fe444743d8..ff72226bb694 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -72,9 +72,16 @@ def new_figure_manager( num, *args, **kwargs ):
     """
     Create a new figure manager instance
     """
-    thisFig = Figure( *args, **kwargs )
-    canvas = FigureCanvasQT( thisFig )
-    manager = FigureManagerQT( canvas, num )
+    thisFig = Figure(*args, **kwargs)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasQT(figure)
+    manager = FigureManagerQT(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
index c47584da4a6f..20cd7ad60480 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
@@ -23,9 +23,17 @@ def new_figure_manager( num, *args, **kwargs ):
     if DEBUG: print('backend_qtagg.new_figure_manager')
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass( *args, **kwargs )
-    canvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg( thisFig )
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg(figure)
     return FigureManagerQT( canvas, num )
 
+
 class NavigationToolbar2QTAgg(NavigationToolbar2QT):
     def _get_canvas(self, fig):
         return FigureCanvasQTAgg(fig)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
index e7a3d89910b8..000d7bd4a3db 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qtagg.py
@@ -23,8 +23,16 @@ def new_figure_manager( num, *args, **kwargs ):
     if DEBUG: print('backend_qtagg.new_figure_manager')
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass( *args, **kwargs )
-    canvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg( thisFig )
-    return FigureManagerQTAgg( canvas, num )
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg(figure)
+    return FigureManagerQTAgg(canvas, num)
+
 
 class NavigationToolbar2QTAgg(NavigationToolbar2QT):
     def _get_canvas(self, fig):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
index 0b9b7ab51701..ae83208d4d9f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
@@ -1151,10 +1151,18 @@ class FigureManagerSVG(FigureManagerBase):
 def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas  = FigureCanvasSVG(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas  = FigureCanvasSVG(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerSVG(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
+
 svgProlog = u"""\
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
 <!DOCTYPE svg PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD SVG 1.1//EN"
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
index 3f39e886158b..532c21e0b835 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
@@ -184,13 +184,21 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Create a new figure manager instance
     """
-    # if a main-level app must be created, this is the usual place to
+    # if a main-level app must be created, this (and 
+    # new_figure_manager_given_figure) is the usual place to
     # do it -- see backend_wx, backend_wxagg and backend_tkagg for
     # examples.  Not all GUIs require explicit instantiation of a
     # main-level app (egg backend_gtk, backend_gtkagg) for pylab
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     thisFig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    canvas = FigureCanvasTemplate(thisFig)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, thisFig)
+    
+    
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    canvas = FigureCanvasTemplate(figure)
     manager = FigureManagerTemplate(canvas, num)
     return manager
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index c70b25e78bb5..da1dfc16e71e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -1456,6 +1456,14 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
 
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     fig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, fig)
+    
+    
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    fig = figure
     frame = FigureFrameWx(num, fig)
     figmgr = frame.get_figure_manager()
     if matplotlib.is_interactive():
@@ -1463,6 +1471,7 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
 
     return figmgr
 
+
 class FigureFrameWx(wx.Frame):
     def __init__(self, num, fig):
         # On non-Windows platform, explicitly set the position - fix
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
index fa498ba0f3d4..c48dd28222bd 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
@@ -121,14 +121,20 @@ def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
 
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
     fig = FigureClass(*args, **kwargs)
-    frame = FigureFrameWxAgg(num, fig)
+    
+    return new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, fig)
+    
+def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
+    """
+    Create a new figure manager instance for the given figure.
+    """
+    frame = FigureFrameWxAgg(num, figure)
     figmgr = frame.get_figure_manager()
     if matplotlib.is_interactive():
         figmgr.frame.Show()
     return figmgr
 
 
-
 #
 # agg/wxPython image conversion functions (wxPython >= 2.8)
 #