James Cornwallis
25 February 1742 -
20 January 1824

Family

James Cornwallis was the third son of Charles, first earl Cornwallis, and Elizabeth Townshend. His uncle was Frederick Cornwallis, Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1771 he married Catherine, sister of Sir Horace Mann, by whom he had two daughters and a son.

Education

He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, from which he graduated B.A. in 1763. He was subsequently given a fellowship at Merton, from which he took his M.A. in 1769. He received the honorary D.C.L. in 1775.

Church Appointments and Service

In 1769 he was presented by his uncle to the living of Ickham, Kent. In 1770 he was made a prebend of Westminster, rector of Newington, Oxford, and rector of Wrotham, Kent. In 1773 he resigned the living of Ickham and accepted--again by his uncle's patronage--the living of Boughton Malherbe, Kent. In 1775 he exchanged the prebendary of Westminster for the deanery of Canterbury. In 1781 he was consecrated Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, upon which he retired from his livings in Kent. Ten years later, he accepted the deanery of Windsor, which, in 1794, he exchanged for that of Durham.

Noteworthy Publications

He published at intervals five sermons (1777, 1780, 1782, 1788, 1811).

DNB 4: 1167