Sir James Gell, CVO, KC (13 January 1823 – 12 March 1905)[2] was a Manx lawyer, who was the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls in the Isle of Man.

[2] His first official appointment was as High Bailiff of Castletown upon the death of John Kelly; he held this office from 1854 to 1866.

[2] On two separate occasions Sir James held the highest office open to a Manxman, that of Governor of the Isle of Man.

The first instance was during the illness of Lord Henniker: Sir James was appointed Deputy and presided at Tynwald.

[2] During the second period Sir James welcomed King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to the island during their visit in August 1902,[5] an occasion on which Sir James was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) by King Edward.

[2] In addition he was a very thorough ecclesiastical lawyer and as a judge he presided over some of the most important cases concerning the Isle of Man in the early 20th century, not least of which was the Dumbell's Bank Scandal.

[4] He took an interest in legal publications, and was editor of Statute Laws of the Isle of Man, 1836–1848, and of the revised edition of 1895.

1 of Deemster Parr's Abstract Law of the Isle of Man; and also compiled a memorandum on the Tithe Question.

[4] On Sunday 12 March 1905, Sir James attended divine service at the church of St Mary's on the Harbour, Castletown,[4] taking his seat in his family pew, along with his daughter Amy.

[7] A special train, hauled by two locomotives, was required to transport people from all over the island to attend the service.

[7] Amongst those present at the service were the Island's Lieutenant Governor, Lord Raglan; the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man; Deemster Kneen; Deemster Moore; the Vicar General of the Isle of Man; the Attorney General, the Speaker of the House of Keys and other members of the House of Keys.