Son of Judge Eugenius A. Nisbet and Amanda Melvina Fitzallen Battle Nisbet. Lawyer and editor; Graduate Oglethorpe University 1845; He later studied law and medicine at Yale University. As his father, who at age 20 in 1823 applied for a special act of the GA General Assembly to allow him to practice law before the age of 21, James also applied for special act of admission to the bar at even an earlier age. At the age of 17, he became the youngest attorney to practice law in Macon. He is sometimes confused with his uncle, James Alexander Nisbet, who also was an attorney and law partner of Eugenius.

Private C.S.A., with older brother Charles Eugene Nisbet, in the Jackson Artillery of Macon, C.S.A. Later, He was a Receiver of Sequestered Property for the Confederate government.From 1850 - 1855, he was an editor and part owner of the "Journal and Messenger" of Macon. From 1856-1860, he was the editor of the " Constitutionalist." He practiced Law with his Father in Macon from 1865 to 1886. From 1886 to 1890, He served Sec. Executive Department in Atlanta under Governor John B. Gordan. In 1872, he drew up Act creating the Board of Public Eucation for Macon and Bibb County, serving first as its secretary, and later as president.

On Dec 18, 1856, he married Mary Seymour Wingfield. Their children were:

Junius Wingfield NISBET b: 28 JAN 1858 in Eatonton, Putnam Co., GA

Ophelia Reid NISBET b: 28 JUL 1859 in Macon, Bibb Co., GA

Eugenius Alexander NISBET b: 20 SEP 1861 in Macon, Bibb Co., GA

Henrietta Dawson NISBET b: 26 NOV 1863 in Macon, Bibb Co., GA. Prior to marriage, she was commonly referred to a Miss "Pet" Nisbet. She would later marry Richard Cuyler King, son of Hon. Thomas Butler King from St. Simons, GA. Thomas Butler King and Henrietta's grandfather, Eugenius A. Nisbet, would start the Georgia Historical Society in Savannah, GA 1839.

James Taylor NISBET , Jr. b: 2 SEP 1866 in Macon, Bibb Co., GA

Ella Amanda NISBET b: 30 NOV 1869 in Macon, Bibb Co., GA

Charles Richard NISBET b: 24 JUL 1871 in Macon, Bibb Co., GA

Mary Seymour NISBET b: 15 JUN 1874 in Macon, Bibb Co., GA