In 1860 James W. Moore was the valedictorian at the graduating exercises of the Easton high school; in 1864 was the Latin salutatorian of Lafayette College, from which he received the degree of Master of Arts in 1867; and in 1869 the degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania. Since January 8, 1866, he has been a member of the faculty of Lafayette College, in which institution he served as tutor from 1866 to 1868, adjunct professor from 1868 to 1872, professor of mathematics and experimental philosophy since 1872. The departments of physics and electrical engineering were organized under his direction, and the equipment of the laboratories was accomplished by him. He is the dean of the Pardee School of Science, a member of the American Philosophical Society, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow of the American Academy of Medicine, member of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, ex-president of the Northampton County Medical Society, conferee of the International Congress of Electricians, Philadelphia, in 1884, and Chicago in 1893, member of the Sons of the Revolution, Historian General of the Founders and Patriots of America, 1607-1657, member of the Phi Beta Kappa society, Nu Kappa Epsilon society, and a member of others. For four years he was a member of the legislative committee of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, which succeeded in having passed the medical examiner's bill.

Dr. Moore has contributed a number of valuable papers on physical, sanitary and medical subjects in scientific and lay publications, and is the author of the following named works: "The Elements of Natural Philosophy for the Use of Engineering Students," 1891; "The Elements of Natural Philosophy for the Use of Junior Students in College," 1891; "Methods of Investigation and Record Book of Experiments in Physics," 1892; "Instruments and Methods of Physical Measurements," 1892; "Simple Harmonic Motion," 1894; "Syllabus of a Course of Lectures on Heat," 1894; "Syllabus of a Course of Lectures on Electricity," 1895; "Electro-dynamic Phenomena," 1888; "Notes on a Course of Lectures on Light," 1889; "An Attempt to Analyze the Statistics of Diphtheria in Easton from 1888 to 1894 Inclusive," 1894, published in the Lehigh Valley Medical Magazine; "Some Thoughts on thee Necessary Preliminary Training for the Medical Profession," 1893; Number 17, "Bulletin of the American Academy of Medicine;" "Some Sanitary Questions," in "Transactions of the Northampton County Medical Society; "Address on Hygiene," 1896, in "Transactions of Pennsylvania State Medical Society;" "American Ancestral Chart of a Branch of the Family of the Rev. John Moore, of Newton, Long Island, which settled in Pennsylvania in 1897;" "Records of the Kingwood Monthly Meeting of Friends, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, 1900."

Dr. Moore was formerly a member of the Reformed Dutch church, but is now a member of the Presbyterian Church. His political affiliations are with the Republican Party.