Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester facts for kids

Francis Leigh, 1st Earl of Chichester (born 28 April 1598 – died 21 December 1653) was an important politician and courtier during the time of the English Civil War. He supported the King, making him a Cavalier.

Francis Leigh was born and later buried at his family's home in Newnham Regis, Warwickshire. His father was Sir Francis Leigh, and his mother was Mary Egerton. In 1613, he went to Oxford University. Two years later, he joined Lincoln's Inn, which is a place where people study to become lawyers.

Becoming a Nobleman

Francis Leigh became a knight by 1618. This happened around the same time as his second marriage. On 24 December 1618, the King made him a baronet, which is a special title. In 1625, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Warwick.

He stayed close to a powerful friend, Lord Brooke. King Charles I then gave Francis Leigh an even higher title. On 31 July 1628, he became Baron Dunsmore in Warwickshire. This meant he was now a peer, a member of the nobility.

Changing Sides in Politics

In 1640, Francis Leigh first disagreed with King Charles I during the Short Parliament. He even pushed for a new parliament to be called, which became the Long Parliament.

However, things changed. He was chosen to meet with Scottish leaders in 1640. The King's enemies became very aggressive, and Charles I personally encouraged Leigh. Soon, Leigh was appointed to the King's Privy Council. This showed everyone that he had switched his support to the King's side.

In March 1642, he was one of five lords who spoke out against the Militia Ordinance. This was an order that gave Parliament control over the army.

Role in the English Civil War

When the First English Civil War began, Francis Leigh actively supported the King. He paid for a Royalist group of forty horsemen. He also became the Colonel of the Royalist Cavalry, leading soldiers on horseback for the King.

In August 1642, his home in Warwickshire was attacked and looted by Parliament forces. These forces came from Coventry and were led by the new Lord Brooke.

In 1643, he took over from the Earl of Salisbury as the Captain of the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. This was a group of bodyguards for the King. On 3 June 1644, the King rewarded his loyalty even more. He made Francis Leigh the Earl of Chichester. He remained Captain of the Gentleman Pensioners from 1644 to 1646.

He also helped the King by being a negotiator. He met with the Parliamentary side at Uxbridge in February 1645 to try and find a peaceful solution. Later that year, he was part of a group chosen to govern Oxford while the King was away.

Later Life and Challenges

After the war, Francis Leigh faced difficulties. In November 1645, he was asked to pay £3,000 by the Committee for the Advance of Money. This amount was similar to what he earned in a year before the war. By January 1647, he had paid £1,000.

In 1646, Parliament took away the noble titles the King had given him after May 1642. Finally, in 1650, he was fined £3,594. Francis Leigh passed away in 1653 at Apps Court in Walton on Thames, Surrey.

Family Connections

Francis Leigh was married twice. His first wife, Susan Banning, died in July 1617 without having any children.

His second marriage was on 31 July 1617 to Audrey Boteler. She was the daughter of John Boteler and niece of King James I's favorite, George Villiers. Francis and Audrey had two daughters.

• His oldest daughter, Lady Elizabeth Leigh, married Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton. When Francis Leigh died, Thomas inherited the title of Earl of Chichester. Their only child, Lady Elizabeth Wriothesley, later married Joceline Percy.
• His second daughter, Mary, married George Villiers, 4th Viscount Grandison. Their granddaughter, Harriet Villiers, was the mother of a very famous British Prime Minister, Pitt the Elder.