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LEIGH, Richard (1727-72), of Hawley, Kent
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Constituency
Dates
Family and Education
bap. 8 Sept. 1727, 2nd s. of Francis Leigh of Sutton-at-Hone, Kent (and gd.-s. of Sir Francis Leigh, M.P. for Kent), by Jane, da. and coh. of Edward Giffard of Pennis, Fakenham, Kent, wid. of Finch Umfrey of Darenth. educ. C.C.C. Oxf. 1744; M. Temple 1750, called 1753. m. Elizabeth, da. of Prosper Browne of Horseman’s Place, Dartford, 2s. 2da.
Offices Held
Serjeant-at-law 1765; King’s serjeant 1771.
Biography
Leigh attained a considerable practice at the bar,1 and acted as counsel for Wilkes in his case against Lord Halifax over general warrants in 1769. He was brought into Parliament by Government.2 In the House his only recorded speech was against William Meredith’s motion on the Nullum Tempus Act.3 No vote of his is known, but in Robinson’s first survey on the royal marriage bill, March 1772, he is marked as ‘pro, present’. He died 24 Mar. 1772.