James MacNair was born in Trout River, Quebec, the northernmost city in Canada, and was the son of a Civil War Veteran. He came to the United States in 1890. In 1905 he graduated from Boston University of Theology with an S.T.B. degree, and that same year received an A.B. degree from that universityÕs College of Liberal Arts. He was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Church in 1902, and was received into the churchÕs East Maine Conference three years later. He served as pastor of the Union Church in Swans Island, Maine, from 1905 to 1906, and was ordained an elder in 1906. He then became chaplain of Craig Colony, Sonia, New York for three years. He was commissioned a U.S. Navy chaplain in 1909, with successive ship-board assignments aboard the U.S.S. Franklin, U.S.S. Georgia, U.S.S. Maryland, U.S.S. Pittsburgh, and U.S.S. Arizona, prior to World War I. During the war he was assigned as chaplain with the 2d Marine Division in France, where he earned the Navy Cross and Silver Star. He continued in service after the war, including a ship assignment aboard the U.S.S. Wyoming in 1925. He retired as a U.S. Navy captain after 22 years of service. In 1936 he was promoted in retirement to Rear Admiral, the third Navy chaplain to received flag rank.