LEIGH, Richard (1727-72), of Hawley, Kent

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

31 Oct. 1770 - 24 Mar. 1772

Family and Education

bap. 8 Sept. 1727, 2nd s. of Francis Leigh of Sutton-at-Hone, Kent (and gd.-s. of Sir Francis Leigh, M.P. for Kent), by Jane, da. and coh. of Edward Giffard of Pennis, Fakenham, Kent, wid. of Finch Umfrey of Darenth.  educ. C.C.C. Oxf. 1744; M. Temple 1750, called 1753.  m. Elizabeth, da. of Prosper Browne of Horseman’s Place, Dartford, 2s. 2da.

Offices Held

Serjeant-at-law 1765; King’s serjeant 1771.

Biography

Leigh attained a considerable practice at the bar,1 and acted as counsel for Wilkes in his case against Lord Halifax over general warrants in 1769. He was brought into Parliament by Government.2 In the House his only recorded speech was against William Meredith’s motion on the Nullum Tempus Act.3 No vote of his is known, but in Robinson’s first survey on the royal marriage bill, March 1772, he is marked as ‘pro, present’.  He died 24 Mar. 1772.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

  • 1. H. S. Sweetman, Leigh of Addington.
  • 2. B. Gascoyne to John Strutt, 14 Oct. 1770, Strutt mss.
  • 3. Cavendish’s ‘Debates’, Egerton 225, p. 241-5.