COLEBROOKE, James (1722-61), of Gatton, Surr.

James Colebrooke in 1752 succeeded his father as head of the family bank, with his younger brother George as partner.

In 1751 he bought for £23,000 the manor of GattonManning and Bray, Surr. ii. 232. which secured for him the uncontested control of one seat in the borough. In 1754 Dupplin classed him as an Opposition Whig; but on 8 Mar. 1756 Colebrooke wrote to Newcastle that he and his brother George would be for the (much contested) plate tax—‘we shall be always happy to be able to support any measures of Government’.Add. 32919, f. 201. In October 1758 Colebrooke, in partnership with Arnold Nesbitt, obtained a contract for victualling the garrisons at Louisbourg and St. John’s,T54/37/123-8. and in November and December 1759, together with George Colebrooke and Moses Franks, further contracts for North America and the garrison at Guadeloupe.T29/33/252, 260. In December 1759 Colebrooke was included by Newcastle among ‘the principal and most responsible men in the City’Add. 32893, f. 481. to be approached about a loan; and in the list of subscribers was put down for £480,000;Add. 32901, f. 238. but at no time did he hold any considerable amount of Government stock.Bank of England recs. On 6 June 1760 he wrote to Newcastle: ‘My vote ... is much your due for many favours received by me.’Add. 32907, f. 48. There is no record of any speech by him in the House.

Colebrooke died on 10 May 1761, six weeks after being re-elected at Gatton.