Legard Baronets

Legard Baronets

The Legard Baronetcy, of Ganton in the County of York, is a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 29 December 1660 for John Legard. The member of an ancient Yorkshire family, he fought as a Royalist in the Civil War and sat as Member of Parliament for Scarborough after the Restoration. The eleventh Baronet was Chairman of the East Riding of Yorkshire County Council and represented Scarborough in the House of Commons.

Several other members of the family may also be mentioned. James Anlaby Legard, eldest son of Reverend William Legard, fourth son of the fifth Baronet, was a Captain in the Royal Navy. His eldest son Sir James Digby Legard was a Colonel in the British Army. His son Alfred Legard was also a Colonel in the British Army and a first class cricketer. D'Arcy Legard (1873-1953), great-grandson of Digby Legard, fifth son of the fifth Baronet, was a Brigadier-General in the British Army. Antony Legard (1912-2004), second son of D'Arcy Legard, played first class cricket for Oxford University and Worcestershire, and served as a Major in the British Army in World War II. The Legard (or Le Gard) family is of Norman descent, and can trace its origins back to the Norman Conquest.

Since 1959 the family seat has been Scampston Hall, Malton, North Yorkshire.