Sir John Leigh, 1st Baronet
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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)[2] 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.
Leigh, whose family resided for generations at Pennington was descended from a cadet branch of the Barons Leigh (of the first creation)[3] 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.[4] He was educated at Manchester Grammar School.[5]
Career
Leigh made his fortune in the Lancashire cotton industry. In February 1918, he was created a baronet of Altrincham in Cheshire[2][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
_&_Norah_(d_1954).jpg)
Leigh married Norah Graces, who predeceased him in 1954.[1] They were buried together in St Michael's Church, Mickleham, Surrey.[5] He resided at Witley Park, near Godalming, Surrey.[5]
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.[5][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.[5]
The family motto is: Fides servanda est ("Faith must be kept").[5][1]
