Philip Seaforth James

Philip Seaforth James (28 May 1914 – 5 May 2001) was an English barrister, academic, author and soldier.

Early life James was born in Surrey, England. He was the son of Dr. Philip William James MC, a doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and his wife Muriel Lindley Rankin, the daughter of Alfred Mottram Rankin of Broomhills, Essex and New Hall, Sutton. After leaving Oxford, he was appointed as a research fellow at Yale University. After which he was called to the bar at The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, where he practiced. By the end of the war, James held the rank of major.

Legal and academic career Following the war, James retired from the army and was appointed fellow and tutor of law at Exeter College, Oxford, in 1946. Whilst at Oxford he taught a number of pupils, including Peter Crill, William Lederman, Christopher Davidge, Sydney Kentridge and Maurice Drake. Also in 1972 he was appointed as professor of the University of South Carolina, in which position he served in until 1973. General Principles of the Law of Torts, 1959, (four editions, latest edition published: ) Shorter Introduction to English Law, 1969 Six Lectures on the Law of Torts, 1980 (trans. Spanish) Along with various other articles, notes and reviews on legal and political subjects

Family Through his father, James was the first cousin of Sqn Ldr Bertram Arthur James, MC. Through his mother, he was the first cousin of Colonel Sir Wilfrid Selwyn Kent Hughes and of his sister, Dr. Ellen Kent Hughes.

In 1954 Philip married Wybetty Gerth, daughter of Claas Pieter Gerth of Enschede an officer in the Royal Netherlands Navy. Philip and Wybetty had two sons: Dr. Philip Nicholas Lindley James (born 5 May 1955), a Doctor of Archaeology and Anthropology at Magdalene College, Cambridge, married musician Carole Pegg. No issue. Edward Peter Hilary James (born 26 April 1958), married Mary Philippa Rose Davidge, daughter of Cecil Davidge of Little Houghton House and his wife, Philippa Lester. They had three children together.

James died on 5 May 2001, in his house in Whitfield, Northamptonshire, at the age of 86.