James, HENRY, LORD

James, HENRY, LORD (of Hereford), Q.C., born at Hereford in 1828, went to school at Cheltenham College, and was called to the bar of the Middle Temple in 1852. In 1850, and again in 1851, he had attained legal distinction as lecturer's prize-man at the Inner Temple. He became a Queen's Counsel in 1869, a bencher of his Inn in 1870; and in March 1869 entered the House of Commons for Taunton. He continued to represent Taunton in the Liberal interest until 1885, when he was returned for Bury, in Lancashire. He made a considerable mark in the debates on the Judicature Bill in 1872, and in the succeeding year was appointed by Mr Gladstone Solicitor-general. In 1873 he became Attorney-general, and was knighted; and in 1880, on the return of Mr Gladstone to power, he again became Attorney-general. He ably conducted the Corrupt Practices Bill through the House of Commons in 1883. Sir Henry James was offered the Lord Chancellorship on the formation of Mr Gladstone's third administration in 1886, but he declined to take office in consequence of his inability to support the Premier's Irish Home-rule policy; and in 1886 he was re-elected for Bury unopposed, as a Liberal Unionist. He defended the Times before the Parnell Commission, and strongly opposed the second Home Rule Bill. Created Lord James of Hereford in 1895, he became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.