John Ernst Leigh was an Ambassador for Sierra Leone to the United States and was the son of a Sierra Leonean (Creole) and a Native Sierra Leonean mother. John Leigh's father, Evelyn Leslie Foy Leigh was from the prominent Cline Town, Sierra Leone Creole family (who are descendants of the original Black Poor settlers). John Leigh is not Creole and has acknowledge his mixed heritage; he has considered himself a Sierra Leonean only.
John Leigh grew up in Cline Town, Sierra Leone, and alongside his other brother, Frederick Leigh (who was also of Native heritage) attended Albert Academy School in Freetown.