JAMES, GEORGE PAYNE RAINSFORD (1799 186o), English novelist, son of Pinkstan James, physician, was born in London, on Aug. 9, 1799, and was educated at a private school at Putney, and in France. He had, according to his own account, composed the stories afterwards published as A String of Pearls before he was 17. His early works were : Life of Edward the Black Prince (2 vols., 1822), and Richelieu (1829), which was well thought of by Sir Walter Scott. James took up historical romance writing at a lucky moment. Scott had firmly estab lished the popularity of the style, and James in England, like Dumas in France, reaped the reward of their master's labours as well as of their own. For 3o years the author of Richelieu continued to pour out novels of the same kind, and also some historical works and verse narrative. In the British Museum 67
of his works are catalogued. The best examples of his style are Richelieu (1829); Philip Augustus (1831) ; Henry Masterton (1832) ; Mary of Burgundy (1833); Darnley (1839); Corse de Leon (1841) ; The Smuggler (1845). His poetry does not require special mention. For a short time during the reign of William IV. he held office of historiographer royal. In 185o he went to America as British Consul for Massachusetts. He was consul at Richmond, Virginia in 1852, and in Venice from 1856 until his death on June 9, 186o.