James Russell Miller (20 March 1840 – 2 July 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

James Russell Miller was born near Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania, on the banks of the Big Traverse, which according to his biographer, John T. Faris, is a merry little mill stream which drains one of the most beautiful valleys in the southern part of Beaver County.

In 1857, James entered Parsonsfield Seminary and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in June 1862.

Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

On 14 November 1861, the National Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) called a convention which met in New York City.

In 1880, Westminster College, his Alma mater conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity and later in the same year came the invitation to undertake editorial work for the Presbyterian Board of Publication in Philadelphia.

[citation needed] On 29 October 1899, St. Paul Church in West Philadelphia was organized with sixty-six members.

On 22 June 1870, Miller married Miss Louise E. King of Argyle, New York, whom he had met two years earlier.

[1] The Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has J.R. Miller's papers including materials from the United States Christian Commission, sermons, and a scrapbook of his articles.