James Ford was the second of the Lodge of Union No 166 brethren who joined the Lodge of Felicity at Arthur Marten‘s installation on 18 May 1875 along with fellow Chapter Founder Frederick Smith and two others.

He was nominated by Felicity as a Grand Steward in 1884, and became Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1886.

He was an accountant and a FCA based on Cheapside in the City.

He died in 1933.