James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele, was born in England to William Fiennes (1357-1403) and Elizabeth de Batesford (-bef1407) and died 5 January 1451 England of unspecified causes. He married Emiline Walsingham (-1452) .
He fought in the Hundred Years' War and served as High Sheriff of Kent in 1436 and High Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in 1438. He was Constable of Dover and Warden of the Cinque Ports from 1447 to 1450, and Lord High Treasurer of England from 1449 to 1450.
He was summoned to Parliament from 1446 to 1449 and is said to have been created Baron Saye and Sele by letters patent in 1447. Saye and Sele was a supporter of William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, the principal power behind the throne of Henry VI. The patent creating the original barony was lost, so it was assumed that the barony was created by writ, meaning that it could descend to heirs-general, and not only heirs-male. However, several authorities, including Burke's Peerage, agree that the assumption was erroneous, and that the original creation was by patent.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| William Fiennes, 2nd Baron Saye and Sele (c1428-1471) | |||
| Elizabeth Fiennes (-bef1470) | 1470 | William Cromer (-1450) Alexander Iden (-1457) Laurence Raynsford (-1490) | |
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
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