James Otis was an American revolutionary politician born in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, 5 February, 1725; died in Andover, Massachusetts, 23 May, 1783. Young Otis graduated from Harvard College in 1743 and practiced law briefly in Plymouth, and in 1750, settled in Boston, where he became a highly respected lawyer.

He was colonel of militia for eighteen years, representative for twenty years, member of the council for twenty-one years, chief justice of common pleas for thirteen, and judge of probate. In 1769, at the height of his popularity and influence, he was pulled from the public stage. He was subject to long bouts of mental instability.

James Otis was harmlessly insane, from 1769 almost continuously until his death. He was struck and killed by lightning at Andover, Mass., on the 23rd of May 1783.