James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough

James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough (1552-1629) was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624 King James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February 1626 King Charles I created him Earl of Marlborough. From July 1628 until December, 1628 he was Lord President of the Council. Both titles became extinct upon the death of the 4th Earl of Marlborough in 1679.

Legal offices
Preceded by Sir Henry Montagu	Lord Chief Justice 1621–1625	Succeeded by Ranulph Crewe
Peerage of England
Preceded by New Creation	Earl of Marlborough 1626–1629	Succeeded by Henry Ley