James Round

Who was James Round?

James Round JP was an English first-class cricketer and Conservative politician.

Round was born at Colchester, the son of Rev. James Thomas Round and his wife Louisa Barlow. His father was Rector of St. Runwald's and St. Nicholas, Colchester, and prebendary of Broomesbury. Round was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. He played cricket for Oxford University in 1864, and for MCC from 1865 to 1869. He played 34 innings in 22 first class matches with a highest score of 142 and an average of 16.85. Round played for a number of clubs and additional sides including Gentlemen of Essex, Bishops Stortford, Chelmsford, I Zingari, Lord Sandwich's Eleven and pre-first-class Essex sides.

In 1867 Round inherited Birch Hall, Essex from his uncle Charles Gray Round, MP for North Essex. In 1868 he was elected Member of Parliament for East Essex. He played cricket for Houses of Parliament teams in 1879. When the seat was reoganised in 1885, he was elected as MP for Harwich. He held the seat until 1906.

Round was also a Justice of the Peace and alderman for Essex County Council. Round died at Birch Hall at the age of 74.

His son Charles Round played cricket for Essex.