Sir William Milbourne James, (29 June 1807 – 7 June 1881) was a Welsh barrister and judge. A Chancery specialist, he was appointed to the Court of Chancery of England in 1869. The next year, he was appointed Lord Justice of Appeal in Chancery (Lord Justice of Appeal from 1877), serving until his death in 1881. Early life and family James was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, in 1807 to Christopher James, a prosperous provision merchant, and his wife, Ann. He was baptised Presbyterian. His cousin was Charles Herbert James, who later became Member of Parliament for Merthyr Tydfil. He was educated privately at the school run by John James of Gellionnen before entering Glasgow University. In 1836 James was included in the preparations for the record breaking balloon trip funded by Robert Hollond. He was amongst six people included in the commemorative painting which is now in the National Portrait Gallery in London. In 1846 James married Maria Otter, daughter of William Otter, Bishop of Chichester. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Their son, W. C. James, became an officer in the 16th Lancers, and was the father of Admiral Sir William Milbourne James. Their daughter, Mary Jaqueline James, married George Salis-Schwabe, also of the 16th Lancers. Career at the bar James was called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn in 1831. James first practised his legal work around the South Wales circuit, but later switched his activities to his Chancery practice. During his legal career, he held several government legal positions: Junior Counsel to HM Treasury in Equity, Junior Counsel to the Woods and Forests Department, the Inland Revenue, and the Metropolitan Board of Works. In 1853 he was appointed Queen's Counsel, and Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster. James also was appointed to several commissions of inquiry into various subjects, including equity procedure, the Law Commission of India, and the army purchase commission. As a member of the judicature commission, he argued strongly for major reforms, including the abolition of pleadings. In 1866, he was the Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn. Political activity James stood for election twice in the constituency of Derby, as a Liberal. He was also a member of the Reform Club. In 1880, he was considered for the nomination to the Merthyr Tydfil seat when his cousin was elected, but by that time James had lost touch with Welsh