Reginald William James FRS[1] (9 January 1891 – 7 July 1964) was a British researcher and teacher of physics in England and South Africa.

After displaying adolescent skills as a maths prodigy, he was awarded a stipend to pursue studies in St. John's College, Cambridge.

[3] Upon the rescue of the men from Elephant Island in 1916, James found his country fighting World War I.

He joined the Royal Engineers, rising to the rank of captain and performing tasks relating to artillery spotting on the Western Front.

[1][3] James began the process of his retirement in 1958 and, beset by progressive cardiovascular disease, wound down his teaching duties over the following five years.