LEIGH, James Henry (1765-1823), of Adlestrop, Glos. and Stoneleigh Abbey, Warws.

‘Bunny’ Leigh, who had inherited the extensive family estates of the extinct barony of Leigh in 1806, had been returned for Winchester in 1818 on the old Chandos interest revived by his cousin’s husband, the 2nd marquess of Buckingham. He was intended as a stopgap for his only son Chandos Leigh, a rake and versifier who frequented Holland House, but it was Leigh himself who came in again at the 1820 general election. HP, Commons 1790-1820, ii. 194-5. It is not clear whether he regarded himself as one of Buckingham’s parliamentary allies, the remnant of the old Grevillite party, but the marquess, who considered him a ‘reluctant’ politician whose political ideas required a ‘little polishing’, does not seem to have taken him very seriously. NLW, Coedymaen mss 20, Buckingham to Williams Wynn [n.d.]. A lax attender, who is not known to have spoken in debate, soon after his election he unsuccessfully pressed his claims to a peerage on Lord Liverpool, the premier, with the support of Buckingham and his kinsman Lord Ailesbury. Black Bk. (1823), 169; Add. 38285, f. 98. In contrast to the Grenvillites, he voted against Catholic relief, 28 Feb. 1821, 30 Apr. 1822, and presented a hostile Winchester petition, 2 Apr. 1821. The Times, 3 Apr. 1821. He was in the ministerial majorities against repeal of the additional malt duty, 3 Apr., military reductions, 11 Apr., and the omission of arrears from the duke of Clarence’s grant, 18 June, but was in the minority for parliamentary reform, 9 May. He divided for criminal law reform, 4 June 1821, 4 June 1822. He voted with ministers against further tax reductions, 11 Feb., and repeal of the salt duties, 28 June, but was in the protectionist minority of 24 for a 40s. fixed duty on imported corn, 8 May 1822. That November his retirement was announced at a corporation dinner given by Buckingham’s son Lord Chandos*. Salisbury Jnl. 11 Nov. 1822. In accordance with Buckingham’s wishes, he duly vacated his seat for the father-in-law of his daughter Caroline at the start of the 1823 session. Bucks. RO, Fremantle mss D/FR/46/11/67.

Leigh’s retirement from public life was short-lived, for he was found dead in his bed in October 1823. An obituary described him as ‘a man who, from the excellence of his private life, the extent of his charities, and his universal philanthropy, will long be embalmed in the recollection of a numerous circle of friends’. Gent. Mag. (1824), i. 87. By his will, dated 28 June 1819, his leasehold properties in Portman Square, London passed to his wife, with remainder to his eldest son Chandos, who was created Baron Leigh by the Melbourne ministry in 1839. The residue of his personal estate, which was sworn under £50,000, was divided equally among his five children. PROB 11/1679/698; IR26/968/1575.