James Cecil, 4th Earl of Salisbury (1666–1694), until 1683 known by the courtesy title of Viscount Cranborne, was an English nobleman, politician, and peer.

He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge,[1] and as his father's eldest surviving son succeeded him when he died in May 1683.

Salisbury was already imprisoned in the Tower of London, and the Lords ordered that "his lady, friends and servants" were to have access to him.

On 2 October 1690, the House of Lords read his petition, which stated "That he hath been a prisoner for a year and nine months, notwithstanding the late act of free and general pardon, and praying to be discharged."

[7] After his release, Salisbury pursued a case in the High Court of Chancery concerning his wife's marriage portion under her father's will, as only £10,000 of a legacy of £20,000 had been paid.

The dispute was about whether the amount should be reduced because Lady Salisbury had been under the age of sixteen when she married, a circumstance which the Executors to the will had agreed to.

On 1 May 1691, the Court found in Salisbury's favour and ordered that he should receive a further £10,000, by way of a charge on his wife's sisters' estates.

Barely a month before Salisbury's death, his wife's mother, Mrs Bennett, had been murdered by a butcher who broke into her house.