William Henry Leigh, 2nd Baron Leigh

[1] Educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge (the university later also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Law degree), he married Lady Caroline Amelia Grosvenor (1828-1906), daughter of Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster, on 22 August 1848 and they had seven children: William succeeded his father as Baron Leigh on his death on 27 September 1850.

He was High Steward of Sutton Coldfield from 1859 until 1892, when the stewardship lapsed after a new charter was issued for the borough, but was reappointed in September 1902.

He donated the land for the construction of St Alban's Church, Holborn in central London.

He was a Privy Councillor from 1895 onwards, the same year as he unsuccessfully stood as MP for the constituency of North Warwickshire in the general election that year.

He was for more than 50 years (1852–1905) Provincial Grand Master for the Freemasons of Warwickshire.