James Bryce, Viscount Bryce of Dechmont (1838-1922) was educated in Glasgow and at Trinity College, Oxford, where he obtained first class honours. He was elected to a fellowship at Oriel College, Oxford, in 1862 and in 1863 won the Arnold Historical Essay Prize with The Holy Roman Empire, which was published in 1864, securing his European reputation. He became assistant commissioner of the Schools Enquiry in 1866 and in 1867 was called to the Bar (Lincoln's Inn) where he practised until 1882, also lecturing on law at Owens College, Manchester. In 1870 he became Regius Professor of Civil Law at Oxford and held the post until 1893. Meanwhile he stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal candidate for Wick in 1874, and successfully for Tower Hamlets, 1880-5, and South Aberdeen, 1885-1906. He established himself as an authority on Eastern matters, especially Armenia, and was the founder and first president of the Anglo-Armenian Society.

He married Marion Ashton in 1889 and in 1898 moved to Hindleap, Forest Row, Sussex. Running parallel with his parliamentary career was his growing reputation as an author and traveller. His work The American Commonwealth (1888) is still relevant in many ways today. After holding posts as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 1892-4, President of the Board of Trade, 1894, chairman of the Royal Commission on Secondary Education, 1894-5, Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1905-6, he was made British Ambassador to Washington in 1907 and remained there until 1913.

On his return, he was created Viscount in 1914, and in the same year presided over the committee on alleged German outrages. In 1917 he was chairman of the Second Chamber conference. His death, while on holiday in Sidmouth, Devon, in January 1922, is described by Lady Bryce in a letter to Sir Courtenay Ilbert (MS. Bryce 470, fols. 73-4).