Sir John Fleming Leicester Bt (1st Lord de Tabley)

John Fleming Leicester was born on 4 April 1762 at Tabley in Cheshire. He was the son of Sir Peter Byrne (later Leicester), 4th Baronet, and Catherine Fleming. He inherited the baronetcy on 12 Feb 1770, and graduated from Trinity, Cambridge in 1784 with an MA. He was MP variously for Yarmouth in the Isle of Wight, Heytesbury in Wiltshire and Stockbridge in Hampshire and appointed High Sheriff of Cheshire from 1804-05. He was created 1st Baron Tarbley on 10 July 1826 only one year before he died on 18 June 1827. He was a keen patron of British art and had a fine collection, including Turners at Tabley House and at his London home in Berkeley Square. He was an enthusiastic traveller, making the Grand Tour in 1785-86 and spending time in France and Italy. In November 1810 he married Georgiana Cottin who was painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence. The painting of Sir John in uniform is attributed to James Northcote and Joshua Reynolds. It is one of several images of him in military dress, in this case a green uniform with red facings and silver cording, the type of uniform worn by the Provisional Cavalry. His light dragoon helmet clearly displays the badge of the Prince of Wales plume which was granted to Sir John’s regiment of Cheshire Yeomanry in 1803. He and Georgiana had two sons, George the 2nd Baron Tarbley, and Hon William Henry Leicester.

Regimental Details | Cheshire Yeomanry Lieutenant-Colonel Commandants