Sir John Leigh, 1st Baronet

Early life Leigh, whose family resided for generations at Pennington was descended from a cadet branch of the Barons Leigh (of the first creation) and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. He was born in Altrincham, Cheshire, the son of Egerton Leigh and Elizabeth Jane Gibson. The Leigh family, long resident at Pennington, were a cadet branch of the Barons Leigh of the first creation. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School.

Career Leigh made his fortune in the Lancashire cotton industry. In February 1918, he was created a baronet of Altrincham in Cheshire Around 1921, he purchased the Pall Mall Gazette. At the time he was rumoured to be worth fourteen million pounds.

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.

Personal life

Leigh married Norah Graces, who predeceased him in 1954. They were buried together in St Michael's Church, Mickleham, Surrey. He resided at Witley Park, near Godalming, Surrey.

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.

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.

The family motto is: Fides servanda est ("Faith must be kept").