James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough

The Earl of Marlborough
Lord High Treasurer
In office
11 December 1624 – 15 July 1628
MonarchsJames I
Charles I
Preceded byLionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex
Succeeded byRichard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland
Member of Parliament
for Westbury
In office
1621–1622
Serving with Miles Fleetwood
Preceded by
  • Matthew Ley
  • Henry Ley
Succeeded by
Member of Parliament
for Bath
In office
1614–1621
Serving with Nicolas Hyde
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Member of Parliament
for Westbury
In office
1609–1614
Serving with Matthew Ley
Preceded by
  • Matthew Ley
  • Alexander Chocke
Succeeded by
Member of Parliament
for Westbury
In office
1604–1605
Serving with Matthew Ley
Preceded by
  • Matthew Ley
  • Henry Jackman
Succeeded by
Member of Parliament
for Westbury
In office
1597–1601
Serving with Matthew Ley
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Personal details
Bornc. 1552
Teffont Evias, Wiltshire, England
Died1629
Spouses
  • Mary Pettie
  • Mary Bowyer
  • Jane Boteler
Children

James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough (c. 1552–1629) was an English judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1597 and 1622. He was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England, and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February 1626, Charles I created him Earl of Marlborough. Both titles became extinct upon the death of the 4th Earl of Marlborough in 1679.