Gibson, the son of an Irish Presbyterian minister, attended Belfast Theological Seminary. From May, 1858, to May, 1859, he traveled in the United States and Canada, and attended a session at Princeton Theological Seminary.
He kept a diary of his travels, beginning with the voyage across the Atlantic on the ASIA and thence to New York, Washington, D.C., west by railroad to St. Louis, Missouri, by rail and boat to Chicago, Ontario, Toronto, Niagara, Montreal, and then back to New York and Princeton, New Jersey. At the seminary Gibson enjoyed the lectures of Charles Hodge and Addison Alexander. He was licensed by the Presbytery at Rahway, N.J., but chose to return to Ulster in May, 1859.
From the description of James Gibson papers, 1858-1932 (bulk 1858-1859). (Princeton University Library). WorldCat record id: 81279211
