James McCosh was born on March 31, 1811, in Carskeoch, Ayrshire, Scotland.

He was a Scottish-American minister, philosopher, and college president. He studied at the University of Glasgow and at the University of Edinburgh (M.A., 1833). In 1834, he became a minister of the Established Church of Scotland and later the Free Church of Scotland. While a student, he developed a serious interest in natural theology and philosophy which culminated in his first book, "The Method of the Divine Government, Physical and Moral" (1850). He became Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at Queen's College, Belfast (1852-1868). In 1860, he published his most important book "The Intuitions of the Mind Inductively Investigated". The Presbyterian-founded College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) chose McCosh as its president in 1868. He expanded the faculty, the program, and increased enrollment and financial support. He continued to write on philosophy and religion during his 20 vigorous years as president. He resigned in 1888 but continued to teach philosophy until his death.

In 1845, he married Isabella Guthrie (1817–1909). He died on November 16, 1894, in Princeton, New Jersey.