Francis Leigh (MP for Oxford) facts for kids

Sir Francis Leigh (born 1579 – died 1625) was an important English lawyer and politician. He served in the English Parliament, which is like today's government, between 1597 and 1622.

Sir Francis was the oldest son of Sir William Leigh and Frances Harington. He came from a well-known family.

Early Life and Education

Francis Leigh started studying law at Middle Temple in 1597. This was a famous place in London where people learned to become lawyers.

Political Career

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1597, the same year he began his law studies, Francis Leigh was chosen as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. This meant he represented that area in the English Parliament.

By the year 1600, he also joined the Antiquarian Society. This group was interested in old things and history.

In 1601, he was elected as an MP again, this time for the city of Oxford. He was re-elected for Oxford in 1604.

Royal Connections and New Roles

In 1603, Francis Leigh received a special honor. He was knighted with the Order of the Bath. This means he became "Sir Francis Leigh." He also worked closely with King James I as a "gentleman of the privy chamber." This was a trusted position in the King's personal staff.

In 1614, Sir Francis took on another important job. He became a "master of requests." This role involved helping people present their requests or petitions directly to the King. In the same year, he was elected as an MP for Leicester.

Local Government Roles

Sir Francis Leigh also served in local government. From 1618 to 1619, he was the High Sheriff of Warwickshire. A High Sheriff was a very important official who helped keep law and order in the county.

By 1621, he was also a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Warwickshire. Justices of the Peace were local judges who handled smaller legal cases and helped maintain peace.

His last time serving in Parliament was in 1621, when he was elected as an MP for Warwickshire.

Family Life

Before 1601, Sir Francis Leigh married Mary Egerton. Her father was Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley, a very important person in the government. Sir Francis and Mary had two sons and three daughters. Their son, also named Francis, later became the Earl of Chichester, which is a high noble title.

Death

Sir Francis Leigh passed away sometime between February 1625 and January 1626.