James Herbert Benyon

Who was James Herbert Benyon?

James Herbert Benyon MA was an early 20th-century Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.

Born James Herbert Fellowes, he was the son of James Fellowes of Kingston Maurward House near Dorchester, Dorset who was the youngest son of William Henry Fellowes of Ramsey Abbey in Huntingdonshire by his wife, Emma the daughter of Richard Benyon of Gidea Hall in Essex. In 1897, he took the name of Benyon upon inheriting his uncle's estate at Englefield in Berkshire.

He trained as a barrister and became High Sheriff of Dorset in 1892 and Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire in August 1901, a post he held until his death. He was also first chairman of the Berkshire Education Committee, chairman of Berkshire County Council and the first Chancellor of the University of Reading after it gained its charter in 1926. He was the father of Sir Henry Benyon.