James Calthorpe

James Calthorpe, DL (25 March 1699 – 11 March 1784) was a British politician and courtier. Biography Calthorpe was born at Elmswell, Suffolk and was the eldest son and heir of Christopher Calthorpe (1652–1717) and his wife, Elizabeth, née Kettleborough (died 1724). After completing his education, he travelled into France and Italy; and leaving Rome in August 1727, arrived in London in the autumn of that year. He was soon after appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk on 20 December that year. By virtue of a warrant by Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, the Lord Chamberlain, Calthorpe was sworn and admitted as a Gentleman Usher Quarterly Waiter in Ordinary on 1 October 1731. By another warrant by Grafton dated 16 February 1742, he was appointed Yeoman of the Removing Wardrobe, an office he held until it was abolished in 1782. Calthorpe first came to reside at his family's ancestral home, Ampton Hall, in 1736, and immediately set about improving his mansion and estate by enlarging the former, and enclosing, planting, and ornamenting the latter; dividing his time in attendance on his official duties in London, and in agricultural and horticultural pursuits, when resident in the country.