James Burns was born 1887 in Coundon, Co. Durham. He was the son of John Burns and Margaret Ann Spensley. John Burns was a hairdresser , son of James Burns, coal miner of Glasgow.

In the 1911 census the family were living at 36-37 Collingwood Street, Coundon. James was a bricklayer.

James served in WW1, as did his brother Spensley Burns.

James Burns is the grandfather of Keith Bailey.