Michael Leach was Bernard Leach's younger son, born in 1913, two years after his brother David.

He spent a short time at the Leach Pottery before serving in the army during the Second World War. His pottery talents were not wasted in the army; he set up two potteries in East Africa to make utensils for the troops.

After the war he worked with Agnete Hoy at Buller's, returning to Leach Pottery in 1948. In 1955 he left to set up Yelland Pottery at Fremington, Devon, which he worked until his retirement in 1984. He died the following year.