James Langham ca.1621-1699

Sir James LANGHAM, 2nd bart ca.1621-1699

Biographical Note

Son of John Langham of Cottesbrooke, Northamptonshire, merchant, MP, created a baronet in 1660. Matriculated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge 1638, but did not graduate; admitted at Lincoln's Inn 1640. MP for Northamptonshire 1656, and for Northampton 1659-62; sheriff of Northamptonshire 1664-5, Commissioner for Public Accounts 1667-70. Fellow of the Royal Society 1677. Described by Gilbert Burnet as "a very weak man, famous only for his readiness in speaking florid Latin", he lived mostly in London and inclined to nonconformist theology.

Books

In his will, Langham left all his books "in my house in Lincolns Inn Fields and elsewhere" to his wife Dorothy. His library was sold by retail sale in London, together with that of "an eminent lawyer deceas'd", beginning 26 January 1714 (after the death of Dorothy, known to have died by 1713?). No catalogue survives but the sale was advertised in The Englishman in January 1714.

Characteristic Markings

None of Langham's books have been identified.

Sources

• Will of Sir James Langham, The National Archives PROB 11/452/227.
• History of Parliament.
• Alston, R. C. Inventory of sale catalogues 1676-1800. St Philip, 2010.
• Venn, J. & J. A. Alumni Cantabrigienses. Cambridge, 1922.