James Cornwallis, 4th Earl Cornwallis

James Cornwallis, 4th Earl Cornwallis (25 February 1743 – 20 January 1824), was a British clergyman and peer.

He was born as the third son of Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis, and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the daughter of the 2nd Viscount Townshend and the niece of Sir Robert Walpole. Cornwallis had several notable relatives: his uncle, Frederick Cornwallis, was the Archbishop of Canterbury; Frederick’s twin brother, Edward Cornwallis, was a military officer, colonial governor, and founder of Halifax, Nova Scotia. His brother William Cornwallis served as an Admiral in the Royal Navy, and another brother, Charles Cornwallis, was a general in the American Revolutionary War.

James Cornwallis received education at Eton College and, in 1760, matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford. He later became a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. His ecclesiastical career included multiple appointments: he was Rector of Ickham from 1769 to 1773, Rector of Addisham-with-Staple from 1770 to 1781, Rector of Newington in 1770, Vicar of Wrotham from 1771 to 1785, and Rector of Boughton Malherbe from 1773 to 1785. He also served as Prebendary of Westminster Abbey from 1770 to 1785 and was Dean of Canterbury from 1775 to 1781. From 1774 to 1775, Cornwallis served as Master's Mate aboard the HMS Pallas, which was under the command of his brother William and stationed off the west African coast.

In 1781, Cornwallis was appointed Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. He held this bishopric until his death in 1824. Additionally, he served as Dean of Windsor from 1791 to 1794 and as Dean of Durham from 1794 until his death. During his tenure as Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, he authorized the construction of a new Poorhouse (Workhouse) at Eagle House, Eccleshall.

Cornwallis married Catherine Mann on 30 April 1771. Catherine was the sister of Sir Horatio Mann, 2nd Baronet. The couple had one child, James Cornwallis. In 1814, James Cornwallis inherited the estate at Linton Park from Sir Horatio Mann. In 1823, Cornwallis inherited the earldom of Cornwallis from his nephew, Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Marquess Cornwallis. He held the title for less than a year before it was succeeded by his son.