Background
Originally known as Octavius Leigh Clare, he was the son of William Clare, a Liverpool banker, and his wife Elizabeth née Leigh.
Originally known as Octavius Leigh Clare, he was the son of William Clare, a Liverpool banker, and his wife Elizabeth née Leigh.
He was educated at Rossall School and Street John"s College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1864 with a Bachelor in the mathematical tripos.
Clare was called to bar at the Inner Temple in January 1866. Initially he practised as conveyancer and equity draftsman. He built up an expertise in mining law, which led to him being retained as counsel in a number of Lancashire mining cases.
He was also the principal lawyer employed by the Manchester Ship Canal company.
In the same year he assumed the additional surname of "Leigh". He stood as Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Eccles at the 1892 general election, but was unsuccessful.
In 1905 he was appointed as Vice Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. At the ensuing general election in 1906, he did not seek re-election.
26th United Kingdom Parliament. 27th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was made a bencher in 1900, and became a member of the General Council of the Bar. Three years later another election was held, and Leigh-Clare was elected to serve as member of parliament for Ecclesiastical