John Leigh (died 1612) facts for kids

Sir John Leigh (born in 1575, died in 1612) was an important English gentleman. He owned large areas of land, served as a soldier, and was a politician. He worked in the English Parliament, which is like a country's main law-making group, between 1597 and 1611.

Who Was Sir John Leigh?

Sir John Leigh was the son of John Leigh and Margaret Saunders. His family lived in Hampshire, England. When he was just one year old, in 1576, his father passed away. John Leigh then inherited several important family estates. These included Coldrey, Chauntsinger, Medstead, Alresford, and Bishops Sutton. All these places were located in Hampshire.

His Early Life and Family

John Leigh grew up in Hampshire, learning about land management. By 1592, he became a Justice of the Peace for Hampshire. This meant he was a local official who helped keep law and order. He made sure rules were followed in his area.

Later in his life, Sir John Leigh married Elizabeth West. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas West. Together, they had a son named Thomas.

Serving as a Soldier

Sir John Leigh also had a military career. In 1596, he served in the army during a battle in Cadiz, Spain. For his bravery there, he was knighted by the Earl of Essex. This was a great honor, making him "Sir" John Leigh.

In April 1599, he traveled to Ireland with the Earl of Essex. He was a captain leading 50 horsemen. However, he returned to England later that same year.

A Career in Parliament

Sir John Leigh was elected to the House of Commons several times. This is where laws were made for England. In 1597, he became a Member of Parliament for Grampound.

He was not involved in any rebellions. Instead, in 1601, he was elected as an MP again. This time, he represented Newport in Cornwall. In 1604, he was elected one more time. He served as the MP for Helston.

His Later Years

Sir John Leigh passed away in January 1612. He was 36 years old. He had been sick for a long time before his death.