Career
Born in Bowmanville, Ontario, he was a publisher of the Canadian Statesman newspaper by career. Before entering politics, he was a Captain of Military Intelligence during WW2 between the years of 1940 - 1945. He was first elected at the Durham riding in the 1949 general election and re-elected there in the 1953 election.
James was defeated in the 1957 election by Percy Vivian of the Progressive Conservative party.