He was commissioned second lieutenant in the Kent County militia in 1776 and served during the American Revolutionary War.
He was a general in the War of 1812 and he freed captive Francis Scott Key from Fort McHenry.
Lloyd was elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Henry and served from December 8, 1797, until December 1, 1800, when he resigned.
James Lloyd died at Ratcliffe Manor, near Easton, Maryland on September 20, 1830.
[2] He was interred at Clover Fields, the estate of his daughter in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.