James Brydges, the Duke of Chandos

Born as the son and heir of James Brydges, 8th Baron Chandos of Sudeley, James was an ordinary country squire with high ambitions. He started his career as a diplomatic envoy to the court in Istanbul. However, the service was not long term and he returned to London in 1701 with no employment and important connections. Only a few years later, he gained the post that made him a wealthy man – an office of Paymaster of the foreign forces.

According to words of his biographers James entered the paymasters’ office a relatively poor man, just under 30, and closed its doors behind him eight years later, as one of the richest men in England. His fortunes were largely gained through immoral means – by imposing heavy commissions on his foreign contractors, by taking bribes from food and equipment suppliers and by using the funds paid by parliament to make private investments.

Because of his wealth, James was made in 1719 the Duke of Chandos. The following year, through a vast and speculative rise in shares in the South Sea Company James became the first non-landed millionaire in British history.

During his lifetime, James was George Frideric Handel's patron and one of only two men in England with a private orchestra.

He died in 1744 and his fortune in today’s term was estimated around £16.6bn.