Sir Egerton Leigh, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir Egerton Leigh, 1st Baronet (born October 11, 1733 – died September 15, 1781) was an important British official during the time when America was still a group of colonies. He was a lawyer and served as the top legal officer, called the Attorney-General, for the colony of South Carolina. Sir Egerton Leigh was a "Loyalist," meaning he supported the British King during the American Revolutionary War. Because of this, he left South Carolina in 1774 and moved back to England.

Early Life and Education

Egerton Leigh was the son of Peter Leigh and Elizabeth Latus. He went to a famous school in London called Westminster School. After finishing his education, he moved to America. His father, Peter Leigh, was also a very important person there, serving as the Chief Justice of South Carolina.

Career in the Colonies

Sir Egerton Leigh became a lawyer in America. He held several important jobs in the colonial government. He was a member of the Council, which helped govern the colony. He also worked as a judge in the Vice-Admiralty Court. This court handled cases related to ships and the sea. Later, he became the Surveyor-General of South Carolina. This job involved mapping and managing land.

In 1765, King George III himself chose Sir Egerton Leigh to be the Attorney-General of South Carolina. This was a very high-ranking legal position. On May 15, 1773, the King gave him a special honor. He was made a "Baronet," which is a title of honor that can be passed down in a family. His title was "of South Carolina, America."

Sir Egerton Leigh was also involved in a group called the Freemasons. He was chosen to be the leader, or Provincial Grand Master, for the Freemasons in South Carolina in 1772. There was a big celebration in Charleston when he was elected.

Family Life

In 1756, Sir Egerton Leigh married Martha Bremar. They had many children together, 13 in total! Some of their children included:

• Martha Leigh, who married Nathan Garrick.
• Elizabeth Leigh, who married Lieutenant-Colonel Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron von der Malsburg.
• Harriet Leigh, who married Captain James Burnett.
• The Reverend Sir Egerton Leigh, who became the 2nd Baronet after his father.
• Sir Samuel Leigh, who wrote a book called "Munster Abbey, a Romance: Interspersed with Reflections on Virtue and Morality." His son, also named Samuel Egerton Leigh, became the 3rd Baronet.
• Thomas Leigh, who owned a large farm, called a plantation, in Georgetown County. He stayed there even after the American Revolutionary War ended.

See also

• Leigh baronets