Born at Cambridge, the eldest son of William Farish, Jacksonian Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy in the University. His father was Senior Wrangler in 1778 and was repeatedly a Moderator in the Mathematical Tripos; his predilection for physics and his mathematical ability was inherited by his son. James Farish was educated under Mr Neale at Southend, near Bromley in Kent, and was admitted a pensioner at Trinity College, Cambridge, on December 28th, 1821, under the tutorship of John Brown. He matriculated at the University in 1821 and was admitted a scholar of his college in 1828. He graduated BA in 1825, being bracketed tenth in the Senior Optimes. He then entered as a student at St Bartholomew's Hospital, acted as a dresser to William Lawrence (qv), and took his MB in 1828. He practised in London at 8 Lancaster Place, Waterloo Bridge, and died there after a long illness on February 18th, 1853. He built up a good practice, paying as much attention and care to the poorest as to the highest of his patients. He was an exact classical scholar, was well read, and was the intimate friend of many distinguished scholars and men of note. His mind was clear, discriminating, and argumentative.