Powys was born in 1849, the son of the Hon. and Rev. Atherton Legh. He matriculated at Pembroke in 1870 and was re-admitted in March 1874, and again in October 1877. He received his B.A. in 1879. He was a Cricket 'blue,' 1871, 1872, 1874 and famous as a fast left-hand bowler. He played for Hampshire, 1877-8 and for the Gentlemen, 1872. He was admitted at Lincoln's Inn, 3 July 1878. He died on the 7 January 1892 at his home in Nottingham.