John St Leger

John Hayes St Leger (1756–1800) was an Irish army officer, courtier, rake and politician. He was Member of the Parliament of Great Britain for Okehampton from 1791 to 1796.

Life He was the eldest son of John St Leger of Grangemellon (1726–1769) and his wife Mary Butler, daughter of Thomas Butler; Anthony St Leger and Barry St Leger were his uncles. He was educated at Eton College. He was brought up as a teenager in St James's Place, London, by his paternal grandmother Levina, widow of Sir John St Leger. She died there in 1771.

St Leger spent some time at the French court. He acquired the nickname "Handsome Jack", and came to know George, Prince of Wales. While George III warned against the family reputation, his son came to see St Leger as "one of the best fellows". In 1785 financial problems caused him to break off his life in England, spending time in Ireland. His fortunes were restored in 1786, when he was heir to his uncle Anthony.

Associations St Leger was one of a group of close companions of George, Prince of Wales, who shared an interest in prizefighting. Others were George Hanger, Gerard Lake and Richard Barry, 6th Earl of Barrymore. Lake became equerry to the Prince in 1780, and St Leger served as his Groom of the Bedchamber from 1784. He also associated with Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland at Dublin Castle, pursuing in a public way his wife Mary Isabella; after the Duke's death in 1787 they were lovers.

Death "Handsome Jack" St Leger never married. He died at Madras on 31 January 1800. His estate at Park Hill, near Rotherham, passed to his brother Anthony Butler St Leger.