Francis James was born in Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

He began reading law in 1823 and gained admittance to the bar of Chester County, Pennsylvania in May 1825.

During his second term, Representative James chaired the House Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business.

According to J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope (1881), while in Congress James "took a strong anti-slavery position and by speech and vote resisted the encroachments of the slave power.

"[3] After departing from Congress, he resumed his legal practice in West Chester and served as the borough's chief burgess in 1850.