Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh

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

He was descended from Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London in 1558, was the grandson of the 2nd Duke of Chandos and was the son of James Henry Leigh of Adlestrop, Gloucestershire who inherited the Leigh family seat at Stoneleigh Abbey, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire following the death of his distant cousin Edward Leigh, 5th Baron Leigh (of the first creation).

He was Lord Byron's schoolmate at Harrow School 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. Leigh Hunt was also a close friend and confident.

He was a cousin of Jane Austen who visited Stoneleigh Abbey in 1806. There is good evidence for thinking that this was the setting used by Jane Austen as the chapel of Sotherton Court in Mansfield Park.

He formed Stoneleigh Cricket Club in the Stoneleigh grounds in 1839 at the request of his son Edward Chandos Leigh who wanted to continue to play cricket on returning home from Harrow School 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. It was officially named the most beautiful ground in England in 2003 by Wisden Cricketer.

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

Peerage of the United Kingdom
New title	Baron Leigh 1839–1850	Succeeded by William Henry Leigh