James Grenville

James Grenville (12 February 1715 – 14 September 1783) was a British politician.

He was born at Wotton House, Buckinghamshire in 1715 into the influential Grenville political family and was one of five brothers who went into politics. He was the third son of Richard Grenville, a prominent Buckinghamshire politician and his brothers included Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple, George Grenville, later the Prime Minister, and Thomas Grenville. He was educated at Eton College (1728-32) and studied law at the Inner Temple, where he was called to the bar in 1738.[1]

In 1738 he inherited Butleigh Court, Somerset from his aunt Catherine Riggs née Symcox.[2]

He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 1741 on the slate of Lord Cobham and served as one of Cobham's Cubs during his early years in parliament. In 1746 he was given a position at the Board of Trade.[3] From 1756 to 1761, under Pitt, he was a junior Lord of the Treasury. Other positions included Lord of the Treasury (Nov. 1756-Apr. 1757 and July 1757-Mar. 1761), Cofferer of the Household (Mar.-Oct. 1761), Privy Counsellor, 1761 and Joint Vice-Treasurer of Ireland (Aug. 1766-Jan. 1770).

In October 1761 following his brother-in-law William Pitt's resignation, James Grenville resigned along with him and went into opposition. He later oversaw the reconciliation between George Grenville, who had caused a rift with his family by not resigning, and their eldest brother Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple a close ally of Pitt.[4]

He married Mary, the daughter and heiress of James Smyth of South Elkington, Lincolnshire and with her had twin sons. He was succeeded in 1783 by his son James, who received most of his estate and was later created Baron Glastonbury, although some property also passed to the younger twin General Richard Grenville.[2] Both sons served together as the MPs for Buckingham from 1774 to 1780.

References

  1. "GRENVILLE, James (1715-83), of Butleigh Court, Som". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  2. "Butleigh". British History Online. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  3. Lawson p.43-44
  4. Lawson p.216-217

Bibliography

  • Lawson, Philip. George Grenville: A Political Life. University of Manchester Press, 1984.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
William Pitt
George Lyttelton
Member of Parliament for Old Sarum
1742–1747
With: William Pitt
Succeeded by
William Pitt
Edward Willes
Preceded by
Viscount Deerhurst
Thomas Grenville
Member of Parliament for Bridport
1747–1754
With: Viscount Deerhurst 1747
John Frederick Pinney 1747–54
Succeeded by
John Frederick Pinney
Thomas Coventry
Preceded by
George Grenville
Temple West
Member of Parliament for Buckingham
1754–1768
With: George Grenville
Succeeded by
George Grenville
Henry Grenville
Preceded by
Sir Lionel Pilkington
Robert Pratt
Member of Parliament for Horsham
1768–1770
With: Robert Pratt
Succeeded by
Robert Pratt
James Wallace
Court offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Leeds
Cofferer of the Household
1761
Succeeded by
The Earl of Thomond
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