ST. LEGER, Anthony (1731-86), of Park Hill, nr. Bantry, Yorks.

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

1768 - 1774

Family and Education

bap. 29 Feb. 1731, 4th s. of Sir John St. Leger (bro. of Arthur, 1st Visct. Doneraile [I]) of Grangemellan, co. Kildare by his 2nd w. Levina, da. of Kingsmill Pennefather of Cashel, nr. Tipperary.  educ. Eton 1745-8; Peterhouse, Camb. 1750.  m. Oct. 1761, Margaret, da. and coh. of William Wombwell of Wombwell, Yorks., s.p. Her sis. m. Charles Turner.

Offices Held

Lt. 2 Troop Horse Gren. Gds. 1754; capt.-lt. 3 Drag. 1755; capt. 1756; maj. 21 Drag. 1760; lt.-col. 124 Ft. 1762; half-pay 1763; col. army 1777; col. 86 Ft. 1779-83; maj.-gen. 1781.

Biography

A soldier and racing man, St. Leger was a friend of Lord Granby; and a brother-in-law of Ralph Burton, one of John Calcraft’s closest friends. In his election at Grimsby, which was uncontested, he had Granby’s support.1 After the election George Vernon wrote to Granby that St. Leger ‘though he has some of the family spirit, has not sufficient to form a parliamentary leader’. There is no record of his having spoken in the House. He voted consistently with the Opposition; only in the division list on the Middlesex election, 8 May 1769, which is however hardly reliable, is he marked as voting with the Government. ‘His chief claim to popular distinction is ... that he in 1776 suggested the establishment at Doncaster of the famous stakes’, known as the St. Leger Stakes.2 At his death he left estates amounting to above £2,000 a year.3

He died in April 1786.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

  • 1. St. Leger to Granby, 7 Nov. 1767, Rutland mss at Belvoir.
  • 2. T. A. Walker, Adms. to Peterhouse, 299.
  • 3. Parlty. Portraits 1795, i. 166.