Sir John Leigh, 1st Baronet
Sir John Leigh 1st Baronet | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Clapham | |
| In office 1922–1945 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Arthur du Cros, Bt. |
| Succeeded by | John Battley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 April 1884 [1] |
| Died | 4 November 1959 (aged 75) [1] |
| Resting place | St. Michael's Church, Mickleham |
| Party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Norah Graces [1] |
| Parents | |
| Education | Manchester Grammar School |
| Occupation | Politician, mill-owner, newspaper proprietor |
| Known for | Owner of the Pall Mall Gazette |
Sir John Leigh, 1st Baronet (3 August 1884 – 28 July 1959)[3] was a British mill-owner, newspaper proprietor and Conservative politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1922 to 1945 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Clapham. He was created a baronet in 1918.
Early life
Leigh, whose family resided for generations at Pennington was descended from a cadet branch of the Barons Leigh (of the first creation)[4] and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. He was born in Altrincham, Cheshire, the son of Egerton Leigh and Elizabeth Jane Gibson.[1] The Leigh family, long resident at Pennington, were a cadet branch of the Barons Leigh of the first creation.[5] He was educated at Manchester Grammar School.[2]
Career
Leigh made his fortune in the Lancashire cotton industry. In February 1918, he was created a baronet of Altrincham in Cheshire[3][6] Around 1921, he purchased the Pall Mall Gazette,.[7] At the time he was rumoured to be worth fourteen million pounds.[8]
Parliamentary career
He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Clapham division of Wandsworth at a by-election in May 1922 after the resignation of the Conservative MP Sir Arthur du Cros, and held the seat until retiring at the general election of 1945.[9]
Personal life
Leigh married Norah Graces, who predeceased him in 1954.[1] They were buried together in St Michael's Church, Mickleham, Surrey.[2] He resided at Witley Park, near Godalming, Surrey.[2]
Coat of arms
The Leigh arms are blazoned as: Argent on a cross engrailed Gules a garb Or between in chief two roses of the second barbed and seeded Proper.[2][1]
The crest is: A cubit arm vested Gules cuffed Argent grasping a staff in bend sinister Proper pendent therefrom a banner of the second charged with a cross couped of the first.[2]
The family motto is: Fides servanda est ("Faith must be kept").[2][1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Egerton Leigh". Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Surrey Coats of Arms I–Z" (PDF). Surrey County Council. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Baronetcies beginning with "L" (part 2)". Leigh Rayment's Baronetage pages. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
- ^ "Burke's Peerage". burkespeerage.com. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Burke's Peerage". burkespeerage.com. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "No. 30544". The London Gazette. 26 February 1918. p. 2484.
- ^ "The Beaverbrook Papers". Parliamentary archives. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
- ^ "The British Press". Frankfurter Zeitung. July–August 1922. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
- ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 57. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.