James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos

His Grace The Duke of Chandos PC DL FRS
Detail of a portrait by Michael Dahl
Member of Parliament for Hereford
In office 1707–1714
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	The Viscount Scudamore
Personal details
Born	6 January 1673
Died	9 August 1744
Alma mater	New College, Oxford

James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, PC DL FRS (6 January 1673 in Dewsall, Herefordshire – 9 August 1744 in Cannons) was the first of fourteen children of Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard. Three days after his father's death on 16 October 1714, when he became 9th Baron Chandos, he was created 1st Viscount Wilton and 1st Earl of Carnarvon; the Marquessate of Carnarvon and the Dukedom of Chandos were created for him in 1719. He was a member of parliament for Hereford from 1698 to 1714.

On 2 February 1695, Brydges married Mary Lake, daughter of Sir Thomas Lake (of Cannons, Middlesex) and Rebecca Langham. She died on 15 September 1712. The couple had two children who survived childhood:

After Mary's death, he married Cassandra Willoughby on 4 August 1713. She was the daughter of Francis Willoughby and Emma Barnard. They had no children. She died 18 July 1735.

On 18 April 1736, the Duke married Lydia Catherine Van Hatten, the daughter of John Van Hatten and Lydia Davall. They had no children.

Brydges was educated at Westminster School and New College, Oxford. In 1694 he was elected to the Royal Society.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Brydges was paymaster-general of the forces abroad, and in this capacity he amassed great wealth. The ethics of his financial operations were called into question at the time, but it was generally accepted that people could profit from public office. He continued to engage in speculative investments after being made Duke of Chandos in 1719, but with less success – he lost money in the South Sea Bubble and the York Buildings Company.