James was born in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire in 1791. At the age of 18 years, he enlisted into the 45th for limited service from the Nottinghamshire Militia on the 4th April 1809 and was placed into 1st Battalion.  

He served with the Regiment during the Peninsula War of 1808-14 and was present during numerous campaigns and battles throughout the duration of the war. For example, he was recorded as being a part of the siege and capture of Badajoz on the 6th April 1812. For his service during this campaign, he would be awarded the Military General Service Medal with clasps Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle and Toulouse. These claps highlight the commitment and bravery that James and the 45th would show during this war. 

Following the end of the Peninsula War, James carried on serving with the regiment and would eventually be deployed to the East Indies, serving there from 1819 to 1829. 

On the 9th July 1829 he was discharged from the army due to being worn out and unfit for further service, he would later be granted a pension at Chelsea on the 5th August 1829.