Lt Colonel Sir William Leighton
Sir William Leighton was one of the senior officers in the King's Lifeguard. He had been identified as serving as a Lieutenant in foreign parts prior to 1639, so he came with a wealth of battle experience when called upon to join the King. He eventually joined the regiment at its inception and, joined up with the King at the raising of the standard in Nottingham in August 1642 he then took part in the first major engagement at the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642, where he was wounded.
The regiment was one of four that made up the Oxford garrison and Leighton took up lodgings in 'Crokes' house in the St Aldgate's parish in Oxford where he quartered for the next two years. It was during this time that Leighton distinguished himself in many battles and he eventually gained command of the whole regiment on the 14th June 1643. This was a temporary position, as the Earl of Lindsey regained his command after he was exchanged for prisoners in the following August.
He fought in many battles such as Newbury, Cirencester and the Cornish campaigns, eventually seeing his Regiment destroyed at the battle of Naseby in 1645.
Leighton was finally captured in 1648 as one of the defenders of Colchester. In 1656 he is noted as serving in the Swedish army but in May 1658 he is again arrested as charged with being involved in a Royalist plot and he was sent to the Tower.
After the restoration of the monarchy he joined the King's new army and on 17th March 1663 he was commissioned as a Captain in the King's Regiment of Footguards under Colonel John Russell. He retired from active service in October 1665.
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