James A. Maclean was born and raised on Prince Edward Island. In his early adulthood James spent years working in the lumber woods of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. James also spent a short period of time as a fisherman with Chester MacDonald, a Rum Runner from Prince Edward Island. In his later years he ran a butcher shop in Montague, Prince Edward Island.
James died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on August 11th, 1999 at the age of 95. He was the husband of Lillian Maclean, the father of 4 children, grandfather of 11 children, and great grandfather to 6 children.