Constituency Dates
Newton 1715 – 1727
Family and Education
b. 30 July 1674, 1st surv. s. of Sir Robert Leicester, 2nd Bt., of Tabley by Meriell, da. and h. of Francis Watson of Church Aston, nr. Newport, Salop. educ. Eton 1686-92; St. John’s, Camb. 1692; M. Temple 1694. m. bet. 1701 and 1705, Frances, da. and h. of Joshua Wilson of Pontefract and Colton, Yorks., wid. of Byrom Thornhill of Fixby, Yorks., 1da. suc. fa. 7 July 1684.
Offices Held

Sheriff, Cheshire 1705–6.

Address
Main residence: Tabley, Cheshire.
biography text

Leicester, a Tory country gentleman, was returned for Newton by his lifelong friend, Peter Legh of Lyme, the proprietor of the borough. Soon after his return he wrote to Legh:

In a little time I shall be of Sir [Michael] Warton’s mind, that one may hear more in 2 hours out of the House than in a whole session within doors.

When Legh’s brothers joined the rebels in the Fifteen, Leicester assured him:

You may depend upon one thing, if it should happen — as I hope in God it will not ... that the Government should take your estates, you shall enjoy one half God blesses me with with the same faith, freedom and cheerfulness and candour as myself the other half, and that as long as I have sixpence in the world.1E. Legh, Baroness Newton, Lyme Letters, 232, 265.

Leicester did not stand again. He died 5 Aug. 1742, leaving an estate of £10,000 p.a.2Gent. Mag. 1742, p. 443.

Author
E.C.
Volume
Commons 1715-1754
Notes
  • 1. E. Legh, Baroness Newton, Lyme Letters, 232, 265.
  • 2. Gent. Mag. 1742, p. 443.