James Lauren Ford was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on 25 July 1854 to James K. Ford and his wife, Louisa, née Livermore. His maternal grandparents were Louisa Bliss Livermore [1790-1871] and Arthur Livermore [1766-1853]. Ford was the descendant of Jane Browne [1734-1802], of Portsmouth New Hampshire, the subject of a portrait by John Singleton Copley, now in the NGA (1942.8.2). Ford was the author of several books, including Forty Odd Years in the Literary Shops (1921). He lived in Brookhave, Long Island, NY, and died 26 February 1928.