James Templer (1722–1782) of Stover House, Teigngrace, Devon, was a self-made magnate, a civil engineer who made his fortune building dockyards.

He broke his indenture and set off for India where he made a fortune, either from government building contracts or possibly from dealing in silver bullion,[b] before returning to England aged 23.

In about 1760 he and his partners obtained the contract to rebuild Plymouth docks,[2] for which he used granite from Haytor, and moved to Devon.

[4] He also acquired other properties including: His grandson George Templer overspent his resources and was forced to sell most of the family's considerable estates to Edward St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset, in 1829.

[15] Pevsner thought highly of this family stating: "The Templers were people of taste, as is clear from the building and their monuments".