Frank James studied history of science with Rupert and Marie Hall at Imperial College where he received his PhD on the development of spectroscopy in the nineteenth century. After a year at the Institute of Education, he joined the Royal Institution where he has remained and was appointed Professor of History of Science in 2004.

His main research is editing the Correspondence of Michael Faraday of which five volumes (out of six) have so far been published.

He has always had a strong interest in the relations of science with other areas of society and culture, such as the military, art (where he co-authored a book on the scientific and technological content of paintings in the National Gallery), religion and technology.