JAMES, Dr Robert, an English physician, particularly distinguished by the preparation of a fever powder, was born at Kinverston, in Staffordshire, in 1703; his father was a major in the army, his mother a sister of Sir Robert Clarke. He was of St John's College in Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of arts; and afterwards practised physic at Sheffield, Lichfield, and Birmingham successively. He then removed to London, and became a licentiate in the college of physicians; but in what year is not known. At London he applied himself to writing, as well as practising physic; and in 1743 published a Medical Dictionary, in three vols. folio. Soon afterwards he published an English translation, with a supplement by himself, of Ramazzini de morbis artificum; to which he also prefixed a piece of Frederic Hoffman upon Endemical Distempers, 8vo. He also published, in 1746, The Practice of Physic, 2 vols. 8vo; in 1760, On Canine Madness, 8vo; in 1764, A Dispensatory, 8vo. In June 1755, when the king was at Cambridge, James was admitted by mandamus to the doctorship of physic. In 1788 were published, A Dissertation upon Fevers, and A Vindication of the Fever Powder, 8vo; with A Short Treatise on the Disorders of Children. This was the eighth edition of the Dissertation, the first of which had been printed in 1751; and the purpose of it was to set forth the success of this powder, as well as to describe more particularly the manner of administering it. The Vindication was posthumous and unfinished; for he died in March 1776, whilst he was employed upon it.