Mr James Easson was born in Liverpool, England in mid-1889. One of six children, he was the son of John Easson, a gasworks labourer, and the former Martha Edwards, both natives of Liverpool. 

By 1911 Easson and his family lived at 10 Harcourt Street, Liverpool and he was described as an unmarried “sea cook.”

In April 1912 Easson was serving as Extra 3rd Cook aboard the Carpathia when that ship rescued the survivors of the Titanic disaster.

James Easson continued to work at sea, serving on ships mainly of the Cunard Line, including the Aquitania but also with spells aboard other lines’ vessels, including the Antonia and Empress of Britain.