Background
James was baptised at Street Mary Woolchurch Haw Church in London on 26 July 1629, the second son of James Houblon, a prosperous merchant and Mary, the daughter of Jean du Quesne, the Younger of London and Canterbury.
James was baptised at Street Mary Woolchurch Haw Church in London on 26 July 1629, the second son of James Houblon, a prosperous merchant and Mary, the daughter of Jean du Quesne, the Younger of London and Canterbury.
He invested heavily in the East India and Iberian trades, specialising in the import of Portuguese wine. He held appointments in the East India Company and the Levant Company. He was elected an Alderman of the City of London in 1692, and was knighted shortly afterwards.
He was elected as the Member of Parliament for the City in July 1698.