James Brown was born in Nixon, New Brunswick in 1899. He worked as a farmer and labourer across the country, living in Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Toronto. He was active in the Communist Party of Canada from 1936 onward, and participated in the On-to-Ottawa Trek.

Brown was a veteran of the First World War, where he served as a gunner with the Royal Canadian Guard Artillery in 1918. 

Brown arrived in Spain in August, 1937 and served with the Mackenzie Papineau Battalion in Company 3, Section 1. He also served in the kitchen. He fought at Aaragon, Teruel, and in the Ebro Offensive. He survived and returned to Canada in May 1939. He died in 1976, in White Rock, BC.