Elisha Leighton facts for kids

Sir Elisha Leighton was an important Scottish official and advisor who lived a long time ago, until 1685. He worked closely with kings and powerful people in the government.

Early Life and Royal Service

Elisha Leighton was the younger son of Alexander Leighton. His older brother was Robert Leighton, who later became a bishop. During a time of big conflicts in England called the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Elisha Leighton became a colonel in the army that supported the king.

In August 1647, he was arrested and held in Windsor Castle. After King Charles I was executed, Elisha Leighton left England and joined the king's supporters who were living in other countries.

Working for the King

George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, a very important person, hired Leighton to work for him. In 1649, Leighton was sent to England by the Duke of Lorraine to find soldiers to help the king's cause. However, the English government suspected him of being a spy.

In December 1650, King Charles II chose Leighton to be his secretary for English matters in Scotland. After a major battle called the battle of Worcester, Leighton escaped to Rotterdam with the Duke of Buckingham in 1651.

Leighton later traveled to London with a secret letter for Oliver Cromwell, who was then the leader of England. The government council told him to leave the country, but it's also said that he had a polite meeting with Cromwell.

New Beginnings and Knighthood

After returning to Antwerp, Leighton became very ill. When he recovered, he changed his religion and became a Roman Catholic. In 1656, he stopped working for the Duke of Buckingham.

Later, he became the secretary for the Duke of York, who would later become King James II. Leighton was honored with a knighthood in Brussels in April 1659.

Return to Power

When the king was restored to power in 1660, a time known as the English Restoration, Leighton made up with the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham helped him get important jobs. Leighton even helped his older brother, Robert, become a bishop in 1661.

In 1664, Leighton became one of the secretaries of the prize office, which dealt with goods captured during wars at sea. King Charles also suggested that he receive a special degree from the University of Cambridge in 1665. He also became a legal advisor in the admiralty court.

Later Career and Royal Society

Leighton was involved with the Royal African Company, a trading company. He signed an important document in 1667 that helped the company grow. Through the influence of the Duke of York, Leighton eventually became the secretary of this company.

In 1670, when John Berkeley became the main leader in Ireland, he chose Leighton as his secretary. Leighton helped change some rules in Dublin to favor Catholics. He then became the Recorder of Dublin, a legal position, and received money from the citizens.

Sir Elisha Leighton passed away on January 9, 1685. He was buried in a church in Horsted Keynes, Sussex. He was interested in how machines worked and became a member of the Royal Society in 1663, which is a famous group for scientists. He was later removed from the society in 1677.

Works

A speech he gave, called Speech at the Tholsell of Dublin, was printed in 1672.