James Stirling was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire in 1906. His father John was an accountant. James studied at the University of Glasgow between the years 1923 and 1926, graduating with an MA on 20 November 1926. In 1923-1924 he took classes in French and Natural Philosophy. In 1924-1925 he studied Logic, Metaphysics, and Political Economy, and in 1925-1926 he took classes in English, Political Philosophy and Social Economics.
After graduation he became a chartered accountant.
From the guide to the Papers of James Stirling, b1906, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1924-1925, (Glasgow University Archive Services)