James Colebrooke (12 May 1680 – 18 November 1752) was a mercer, banker, and citizen of London.
James Colebrooke was born at Arundel on 12 May 1680. He married Mary Hudson. They had children:
Robert Colebrooke was member of Parliament for Maldon for 1741 to 1761 and then minister to the Swiss Cantons in 1762-64.
Both younger brothers were at first opposition Whigs, but switched support to the Duke of Newcastle's government and were rewarded in 1759 with the creation of a baronetcy for James (who had daughters but no son). A special remainder of the baronetcy allowed it to pass to George when James died in 1761.
Colebrooke was a merchant and banker, described by C.M. Tenison in Cokayne as "a great money scrivenor in Threadneedle Street".[1]
He bought Chilham Castle in Kent from the Digges family. The castle was sold to Thomas Heron by Robert Colebrooke.
In 1719[2] or 1720[3] he bought from Thomas Wolstenholme the Arnolds Estate (Edmonton Hundred, Middlesex) in what is now north London. He demolished the existing manor house on the estate and set about building a larger house that became known as Arno's Grove. It was not complete at the time of his death and was finished by his son George.[4]
He died on 18 November 1752.[1]