Edward Christopher James (May 1, 1841–March 24, 1901) was elected to The Lambs on Christmas Eve 1889 as a Non-Professional member. At the time he was one of the most famous attorneys practicing law in New York. James was Civil War veteran and trial lawyer, who retained the honorific “colonel” for his professional life.
E. C. James was born Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York. The son of Congressman Amaziah B. James, he was educated at local public and private schools. When the Civil War began, he decided to join the Army rather than enter college, and was appointed lieutenant and adjutant of the Fiftieth New York Volunteers. James was later promoted to major and assigned to the Sixtieth New York Infantry. After serving in West Virginia with the Sixtieth, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the One Hundred and Sixth New York Infantry. He was later promoted to colonel, commanding the regiment in West Virginia in 1862 and 1863.
He left the army in early 1863 because of physical disability and studied law in Ogdensburg, winning admission to the bar later the same year. He practiced in Ogdensburg until 1881, when he relocated to New York City.
James’ practice consisted almost entirely of courtroom trials, including criminal cases, equity cases, contested wills, and civil suits, and his courtroom success won James a national reputation for effective advocacy. He was especially noted for his skills at cross examination, with contemporary judges and lawyers ranking him as among the three best cross examiners in the United States.
James was also the father of famed sculptor Sally James Farnham. Her husband, George Paulding Farnham, a designer at Tiffany & Co., was elected to The Lambs in 1894.
—Researched and written by Shepherd Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, 2025.