Sir John Leigh, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Leigh, 1st Baronet (3 August 1884 – 28 July 1959) was a British mill-owner, who used his fortune to buy a newspaper and launch his career as a Conservative Party
politician.
Leigh was educated at Manchester Grammar School
, and made his fortune in the Lancashire
cotton industry. He was made a baronet
in February 1918, of Altrincham
in Cheshire, and at some point around 1921 he purchased the Pall Mall Gazette
newspaper. He was rumoured at the time to be worth fourteen million pounds.
He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Clapham division of Wandsworth
at a by-election in May 1922
after the resignation of the Conservative MP Sir Arthur du Cros
, and held the seat until he retired from politics at the 1945 general election
.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Leigh was educated at Manchester Grammar School
Manchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK . It is based in Manchester, England...
, and made his fortune in the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
cotton industry. He was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in February 1918, of Altrincham
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
in Cheshire, and at some point around 1921 he purchased the Pall Mall Gazette
Pall Mall Gazette
The Pall Mall Gazette was an evening newspaper founded in London on 7 February 1865 by George Murray Smith; its first editor was Frederick Greenwood...
newspaper. He was rumoured at the time to be worth fourteen million pounds.
He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Clapham division of Wandsworth
Clapham (UK Parliament constituency)
Clapham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
at a by-election in May 1922
Clapham by-election, 1918
The Clapham by-election, 1918 was a by-election held on 21 June 1918 for the British House of Commons constituency of Clapham in South London.The by-election was triggered by the elevation to the peerage of the serving Conservative Party Member of Parliament , George Faber.The Unionist candidate...
after the resignation of the Conservative MP Sir Arthur du Cros
Sir Arthur du Cros, 1st Baronet
Sir Arthur Philip du Cros, 1st Baronet du Cros was a British industrialist and politician.-Early life and business career:...
, and held the seat until he retired from politics at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
.