James Grimston, 3rd Viscount Grimston

James Bucknall Grimston, 3rd Viscount Grimston, was born on 9 May 1747. He was the son of James Grimston, 2nd Viscount Grimston, and Mary Bucknall. The family held an Irish peerage, which did not confer an automatic right to sit in the House of Lords. Grimston received his education at Eton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge University.

In 1773, upon the death of his father, Grimston succeeded to the viscountcy, becoming the 3rd Viscount Grimston. Despite holding an Irish peerage, this did not entitle him to a seat in the British House of Lords. Instead, in 1783, he was elected to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) for St Albans. His tenure for this constituency lasted until 1784. Subsequently, he was elected as the MP for Hertfordshire, a county-level seat, serving from 1784 until 1790.

In 1790, Grimston was elevated to the Peerage of Great Britain when he was created Baron Verulam, of Gorhambury in Hertfordshire. This peerage granted him a seat in the House of Lords.

He was married to Harriot Walter (1756–1786), who was the daughter of Edward Walter of Bury Hill, Westcott, Surrey, and Harriot Forrester, daughter of George Forrester, 5th Lord Forrester.

James Grimston, 3rd Viscount Grimston, died on 30 December 1808 at the age of 61. His titles were inherited by his son, James Grimston, who was subsequently created Earl of Verulam in 1815.