James Fortescue was an Irish politician.

He sat in the Irish House of Commons

Irish House of Commons

The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...

 for Dundalk

Dundalk (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Dundalk was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1801.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Dundalk was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...

 between 1757 and 1760 and County Louth

Louth (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Louth was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1801.-1692–1801:-References:...

 between 1761 and his death. He was also elected for Monaghan

Monaghan Borough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Monaghan Borough was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800. Between 1725 and 1793 Catholics and those married to Catholics could not vote.-1692–1801:...

 in 1776, but chose to continue sitting for Louth.

He was appointed to the Irish Privy Council on 7 May 1770.

He was the son of Thomas Fortescue

Thomas Fortescue (1683–1769)

Thomas Fortescue was an Irish Member of Parliament.By his wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Hamilton, granddaughter of John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt and sister of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, he was father of William Henry Fortescue, later Earl of Clermont; James Fortescue, an...

, brother of William Henry Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont, and father of Thomas James Fortescue and William Charles Fortescue, 2nd Viscount Clermont.