James Morrison was a Montreal merchant and fur trader. Born in England, Morrison had migrated to Montreal by 1762. He was very involved in the fur trade in the 1760s, going on canoe journeys to buy and sell furs and other goods. In Montreal, he traded more generally in goods including wheat, sugar, and textiles, and had connections with other merchants in Quebec City, England, and parts of the United States. He enslaved at least one Black woman who worked in his household. He married Susanne LePallieur on 30 March 1772. They had 8 children together: Susan, Nancy, Charles James, Samuel Morrison, Charlotte, Polly, Catherine, and Harriet Ann. He died on 30 March 1807.