Edward Leighton

Sir Edward Leighton, 1st Baronet (c.1650–1711), of Wattlesborough Castle, Shropshire, was a Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1698 and 1710.

Early life

Leighton was the eldest surviving son of Robert Leighton (MP), of Wattlesborough Castle, and his wife, Gertrude Baldwin, daughter of Edward Baldwin of Diddlebury, Shropshire. He was educated at Shrewsbury School in 1661, and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 5 August 1668, aged 18, and was admitted at Inner Temple in 1669.

He married Dorothy Charlton, daughter of Sir Job Charlton, 1st Baronet of Ludford, Herefordshire on 24 May 1677. She died in 1688, and in 1689 he succeeded his father to Wattlesborough. For the year 1692 to 1693, he was High Sheriff of Shropshire. He was created a baronet on 2 March 1693. On 29 July 1693, he married as his second wife, Jane Nicholls, daughter of Daniel Nicholls, merchant, of London.

Death and legacy Leighton died in April 1711 and was buried at Alberbury, Shropshire, on 6 April. He had three sons and four daughters by each of his wives. He left Wattlesborough Castle to his widow for her lifetime. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son Edward, who changed the family residence to Loton Park.