About William Leighton
Lived 1752 – 1826 (aged 73–74). William Leighton was a businessperson.
Sir William Leighton (1752 – 23 April 1826) was a British shipowner and merchant who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1806.
Leighton's family was from County Durham in the North East of England and he moved to London around 1779 following his father's death. Leighton worked as a coal merchant shipping coal from the port of Newcastle, and was based at Newcastle's Coal Exchange. Leighton also owned several ships that were sent as military transports to the British Province of Quebec with contracts from the British Navy. He was created an alderman in the City of London's Billingsgate ward in 1799, before his resignation as an alderman in 1821.
Leighton died at Kemnal House in Kent, in 1826. He had previously lived in Charlton.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was William Leighton?
British shipowner and merchant, Lord Mayor of London
When was William Leighton born?
William Leighton was born in 1752.
When did William Leighton die?
William Leighton died on 23 April 1826.
What was William Leighton's occupation?
William Leighton was a businessperson.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: William Leighton (Lord Mayor of London)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Leighton. https://biography.guide/william-leighton-businessperson/
MLA: "William Leighton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-leighton-businessperson/.
Chicago: "William Leighton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-leighton-businessperson/.
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