| Constituency | Dates |
|---|---|
| Tregony | 1774 – 1780 |
Lt. and fireworker R.A. 1759; 1st lt. 1764; entered service of E.I. Co. 1768; lt.-col. 88 Ft. 1779 ‘without permanent rank or half pay’.1Ms note in Army List, WO Lib.
In 1774 Tregony was at the disposal of the Treasury, and as late as 6 Oct., four days before the election, North named to Robinson three possible candidates for the second seat, though not Leith; but because of ‘the shortness of time’ he left Robinson to settle matters, assuring him that he would be satisfied with his decision.2Laprade, 24-25.
The Public Ledger wrote in 1779 that Leith had voted ‘with Lord North, from whom he got his baronetage; but last year he wheeled about to the minority. He is a man of which both sides are very shy.’ Two speeches of his are reported in 1778, sharply attacking the Government: the first, 27 Jan., on Burgoyne’s expedition, followed by his voting with the Opposition;3Almon, vii. 320; Walpole, Last Jnls. ii. 94. the second, thus reported by Walpole:4Last Jnls. ii. 106.
Sir Alexander Leith ... who had gone into virulent Opposition on being refused to be sent to Madras, and had a very bad character, abused Lord George Germain in the grossest terms, and told him he was not fit to serve the King.
In 1779, as lieutenant-colonel of the 88th Foot, he was sent out to the West Indies, and consequently was absent from the divisions of February-May 1780. Robinson wrote against Tregony in his survey for the general election of 1780: ‘Sir Alexander Leith will certainly not come in for this place.’
Leith died in Jamaica, 3 Oct. 1780, while commanding an expedition against Nicaragua.