St. Leger family historical importance was Gen. Anthony St. Leger. He was born in 1731, probably in Kildare, Ireland. He was one of a group of noblemen and gentlemen who in 1778 gathered for a private dinner party in an upper room of the Red Lion Inn, which stands in the market square in Doncaster. A horse race, which was to set the pattern for classic racing throughout the world, had been christened the St. Leger at the suggestion of Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. The race, a sweepstake for three-year-olds, had been born two years earlier in 1776, at the suggestion
Arthur St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile Doneraile seems to have been moved by simple family loyalty, as he and his brother were close. He married Elizabeth Hayes, the daughter of John Hayes, on 24 June 1690. Together they had four children. Both of his two surviving sons would, in turn, succeed to his titles. Arthur St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile Arthur St Leger, 1st Viscount Doneraile (died 7 July 1727) was an Anglo-Irish politician and peer. St Leger was the son of John St. Leger and his first wife Lady Mary Chichester, the daughter of Arthur Chichester, 1st Earl of Donegall and his first wife Dorcas