George Legh
Encyclopedia
George Cornwall Legh DL
, JP
(30 August 1804 – 16 June 1877), was a British Conservative
politician.
family, Legh was the eldest son of George John Legh, of High Legh
, and Mary, daughter of John Blackburne. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
.
in 1841, a seat he held until 1847 and again between 1848 and 1868. The latter year the constituency was abolished and he was instead elected for the newly created Cheshire Mid constituency
, which he represented until 1873. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
and Justice of the Peace
for Cheshire and served as High Sheriff
of the county in 1838.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(30 August 1804 – 16 June 1877), was a British Conservative
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.
Background and education
The member of an old CheshireCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
family, Legh was the eldest son of George John Legh, of High Legh
High Legh
High Legh is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies six miles north west of Knutsford, seven miles east of Warrington and seventeen miles south west of Manchester City Centre....
, and Mary, daughter of John Blackburne. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
Political career
Legh was returned to Parliament for Cheshire NorthNorth Cheshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Cheshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was created upon the division of Cheshire in 1832. In 1868, it was abolished with South Cheshire to form East Cheshire, Mid Cheshire, West Cheshire and Stalybridge....
in 1841, a seat he held until 1847 and again between 1848 and 1868. The latter year the constituency was abolished and he was instead elected for the newly created Cheshire Mid constituency
Mid Cheshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Cheshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was created upon the abolition of North Cheshire and South Cheshire in 1868 and the redivision of Cheshire into Mid Cheshire, East Cheshire, West Cheshire and Stalybridge...
, which he represented until 1873. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
and Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Cheshire and served as High Sheriff
High Sheriff of Cheshire
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...
of the county in 1838.