Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh (27 June 1791 – 27 September 1850) was created 1st Baron Leigh in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1839.

Descended from Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London

Lord Mayor of London

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...

 in 1558, he was the grandson of the 2nd Duke of Chandos

Duke of Chandos

The title Baron Chandos has been created twice in the Peerage of England. It was first created in 1337 when Roger de Chandos was summoned to parliament. It became extinct on his death....

 and the son of James Henry Leigh of Adlestrop

Adlestrop

Adlestrop is a village and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is known as Tedestrop in the Domesday Book.The civil parish also includes the village of Daylesford...

, Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....

. James Henry Leigh inherited the Leigh family seat at Stoneleigh Abbey, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

Stoneleigh is a small village in Warwickshire, England on the River Sowe, about 5 miles south of Coventry and 5 miles north of Leamington Spa. The village is situated about northeast of the confluence of the River Sowe and the River Avon.Stoneleigh does not have a public house...

, following the death of his distant cousin Edward Leigh, 5th Baron Leigh

Edward Leigh, 5th Baron Leigh

Edward Leigh, 5th Baron Leigh was descended from Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London in 1558, and inherited the Leigh family seat at Stoneleigh Abbey, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire following the death of father Thomas Leigh, 4th Baron Leigh in 1749....

 (of the first creation).

He was Lord Byron's schoolmate at Harrow School

Harrow School

Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...

 and 'inherited some of his master's poetical talent'. He was an author and minor poet. He dined together with Lord Byron on the evening before Byron left England for Europe in April 1816. He was also a close friend and confidant of Leigh Hunt

Leigh Hunt

James Henry Leigh Hunt , best known as Leigh Hunt, was an English critic, essayist, poet and writer.-Early life:Leigh Hunt was born at Southgate, London, where his parents had settled after leaving the USA...

.

He was a cousin of Jane Austen

Jane Austen

Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...

, who visited Stoneleigh Abbey

Stoneleigh Abbey

Stoneleigh Abbey is a large country mansion situated to the southwest of the village of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building.The Abbey was founded by the Cistercians in 1154...

 in 1806. There is good evidence that it was the model for the chapel of Sotherton Court in Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park may mean:* Mansfield Park by Jane Austen* Mansfield Park , based on the novel, directed by Patricia Rozema, starring Frances O'Connor, Embeth Davidtz, and Sheila Gish in 1999...

(1814).

He was appointed High Sheriff of Warwickshire

High Sheriff of Warwickshire

The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...

 for 1825.

In 1839, he formed Stoneleigh Cricket Club

Stoneleigh Cricket Club

Stoneleigh Cricket Club is one of the oldest cricket clubs in Warwickshire and officially the most beautiful ground in England in 2003 as voted by Wisden Cricketer....

 in the Stoneleigh grounds at the request of his son Edward Chandos Leigh

Edward Chandos Leigh

Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, KCB, KC, was born in Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire on 22 December 1832, died in London on 18 May 1915.Edward Chandos Leigh’s cricketing career and first class stats might be considered average but he was a popular choice as President of the MCC in its first centenary year...

, who wanted to continue to play cricket on returning home from Harrow School

Harrow School

Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...

 in the summer months. Cricket is still regularly played on the ground - http://www.stoneleighcc.org.uk.
The club is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Warwickshire. In 2003, it was officially named the most beautiful ground in England by The Wisden Cricketer

The Wisden Cricketer

The Wisden Cricketer is the world's best-selling monthly cricket magazine.It was created in 2003 by a merger between The Cricketer magazine and Wisden Cricket Monthly....

.

He married Margarette Willes and was succeeded by their son William Henry.