James Nisbet was born in Glasglow, Scotland in 1823, the son of Thomas Nisbet, a carpenter and shipbuilder. He was the youngest of ten children but some of them died at an early age. James was brought up in the Presbyterian Denomination and at an early age when James was eighteen, he and his brother Henry, set off on foot for London to enlist in the Foreign Bible Society. Henry was accepted was not because of his age. He instead became a competent carpenter as his father was.

In 1844 Thomas Nisbet and family immigrated to Canada and settled in Oakville, Canada west.

James enrolled in the first class at Knox College in 1844. After completing his course, he was employed by the Canada Sabbath School Union to travel across Canada West ( Ontario ) to promote the importance of the Sabbath Schools.

In 1850 he was ordained in January and accepted ministry position in Oakville.

In 1862 Nisbet received an appointment from the Presbyterian Church to assist John Black with the building of churches and schools in the Red River area.

In 1866 he set up a mission in what is now Prince Albert, after many struggles on the way.

In September of 1874 , James Nisbet passed away , eleven days after his wife , Mary.