George Payne Rainsford James (9 August 1799 – 9 June 1860), was an English novelist and historical writer, the son of a physician in London.

He held the honorary office of British Historiographer Royal during the last years of William IV's reign.

James served for a short time in the army as a lieutenant during the Hundred Days, and was wounded in a small action following The Battle of Waterloo.

After reading Richelieu, which had been given to him by a friend, and after receiving a letter from James, Walter Scott advised him to take up literature as a profession.

In July 1850 he left England and travelled to New York, where he rented Charles Astor Bristed's house at Hell Gate.

[1] The epitaph reads:"George Payne Rainsford James.British Consul General in the Adriatic.Died in Venice on the 9th day of June, 1860.His merits as a writer are known wherever the English language is, and as a man they rest on the hearts of many.A few friends have erected this humble and perishable monument.

"At an early age he began to write romances, and continued his production with such industry that his works reach to 100 volumes.

Describing himself as a follower of Sir Walter Scott, he may have produced more sheer verbiage than his mentor, chiefly historical fiction (61 titles in 158 volumes).