Rev. James Chambers was born on March 1, 1851, in Holbrook, Ontario.

He was a Presbyterian clergyman. He was educated at Queen's University, Kingston, Princeton College and Princeton Theological Seminary (B.A., 1872; M.A., 1875), and University of Chicago (D.D., 1890). He was ordained in 1875 and took charge of the 1st Congregational Church in Sherburne, N.Y. In 1882, he was appointed to the pastorate of Calvary Presbyterian Church in New York City where he stayed until 1900. Chambers was President of the Presbyterian Club, N.Y., President of the Ministers' Association, President of the Italian Evangelical Mission, and Moderator of the New York Presbytery. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Union. As editor of Church Work, he published many articles in the interest of the Church and society. In 1894, he delivered a sermon that started a campaign against Tammany. He was a member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Home, Norwich, New York. He is known as the inventor of the "Invalid Chair".

In 1877, he married Jessie Irene Buell (1855–1930). He died on June 10, 1911, in Norwich, Chenango, New York.