James Hargraves

James Hargraves or Hargrave (1690–1741) was an English Anglican divine who became the Dean of Chichester Cathedral in 1739.

Early life Hargraves was the son of Nathaniel Hargrave of Wakefield, Yorkshire and went to school in his home town. He matriculated in 1709 and studied at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was awarded his BA in 1711–1712. He received his MA 1715 and his DD (Com. Reg. ) in 1728.

Career James Hargraves was ordained in 1712/13. He was appointed Chaplain to the King in 1724 and Prebendary of Westminster in 1725, was Rector of St Margaret's, Westminster 1730–1734, and was Dean of Chichester from 1739 until his death.

He died on 4 December 1741 and was buried in Chichester Cathedral. In 1711 one of the family, Thomas Pelham, inherited the title and vast estate of John Holles, the Duke of Newcastle who had been his mother's brother. The heir's only obligation was to append 'Holles' to his name and so he became Thomas Pelham-Holles. In Sussex the Pelham family had influence and contacts among the clergy. Hargraves originally came from Wakefield, in Yorkshire, but was brought to Sussex by the duke to be his chaplain. Even so, with Newcastles help, Hargraves was able to progress rapidly from his post as chaplain to Dean of Chichester. He became dean of Chichester after Hayley's death in 1739

Both Newcastle and Hargraves seemed to have remained friends until Hargraves death in 1741.