Bryce, James

James Bryce, British statesman and writer, combined a distinguished public life with scholarship in history, politics and law. As a jurist his interest lay in historical jurisprudence, but he is best remembered for his comparative politics. He contributed significantly to democratic political theory and to a liberal-historicist approach in philosophy of law. Bryce was born in Belfast in 1838, of Ulster Scottish descent. He was educated at Glasgow University and Oxford University. Although called to the Bar in 1867, he preferred scholarship, travel and public service. As Regius Professor of Civil Law at Oxford (1870-93), he reinvigorated the study of Roman law in Britain and helped to reform legal education. He entered Parliament as a Liberal MP in 1880 and held several ministerial offices between 1886 and 1906. He was Ambassador to the USA (1907-13), was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Bryce of Dechmont in 1914, and remained active in public life until his death.