James Lloyd III was born in 1742 in Talbot County, MD to Colonel James Lloyd II and Elizabeth Frisby. James III, descended from the “Choptank Lloyds”–named for the land along the Choptank River in Maryland, which was owned by his family for generations.

James III was Commissioned in the Revolutionary Army on May 16, 1776, and was appointed Captain, 4th Battalion, Talbot County, Maryland Militia.

Prior to his military commissioning, James III had served as one of the Justices of Talbot County from 1769-1770. (In assuming this position, he was following his father, James II, who was a Justice of Talbot County from 1751 until his death in 1768.) After the war James III returned to the same position in Talbot County,

Before the Revolution, James III had married Sarah Martin, daughter of Thomas Martin and Elizabeth Goldsborough on December 9, 1769 in his hometown. They had five children. He died on January 4,1815, in Talbot, MD, aged 73