1. Sir James Stansfeld, was a British Radical and Liberal politician and social reformer who served as Under-Secretary of State for India, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and President of the Poor Law Board before being appointed the first President of the Local Government Board.
Stansfeld's father, James Sr, was the sixth son of David Stansfield of Hope Hall, Halifax, and his wife Sarah Wolrich, daughter of Thomas Wolrich of Armley House, Leeds.
James Stansfeld was admitted a student of the Middle Temple on 31 October 1840, and was called to the bar on 26 January 1849; he does not seem to have practised as a barrister, and later in life derived his income mainly from a brewery at Fulham.
On 27 July 1844, James Stansfeld married Caroline, second daughter of William Henry Ashurst, a radical and friend of Giuseppe Mazzini, to whom James Stansfeld was introduced in 1847: they became close.
James Stansfeld sympathised with the Chartist movement, even if Feargus O'Connor denounced him.
James Stansfeld took an active part in propagating radical opinions in the north of England, frequently spoke at meetings of the Northern Reform Union, and was one of the promoters of the association for the repeal of "taxes on knowledge".
In 1859, James Stansfeld was returned to Parliament as a Radical member for Halifax, which he continued to represent for over thirty-six years.
James Stansfeld voted consistently on the Radical side, but his chief energies were devoted to promoting the cause of Italian unity.
James Stansfeld was selected by Giuseppe Garibaldi as his adviser when the Italian patriot visited England in 1862.
James Stansfeld became Civil Lord of the Admiralty in April 1863.
James Stansfeld was sworn of the Privy Council in February 1869.
James Stansfeld did not serve in Gladstone's second administration, and declined the twice-repeated offer of the Deputy Speakership.
James Stansfeld later returned to government in Gladstone's third administration on 3 April 1886, when he again became President of the Local Government Board.
James Stansfeld did not serve in Gladstone's last administration and refused a peerage.
However, before Lord Rosebery left office in June 1895, James Stansfeld was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1895 Birthday Honours.
James Stansfeld retired as MP for Halifax in the same month.
James Stansfeld married Caroline, second daughter of William Henry Ashurst, on 27 July 1844.
James Stansfeld died, aged 77, at his residence, Castle Hill, Rotherfield, Sussex, on 17 February 1898, and was buried at Rotherfield on 22 February 1898.