Born in Rochester, Kent, England, James Ernest Kirby enlisted in the British Army in 1879, fought in the Afghan War of 1889 and achieved the rank of Full Sergeant in 1888. Joining his aunt and uncle in Metlakatla, B.C. in 1892, he was a federal government police constable there until 1893 when he moved to Port Essington as a police constable for the provincial government. In 1900 he moved to Hazelton, where he served as Constable-In-Charge, Provincial Constable, Deputy Mining Recprder, Registrar of the Supreme and County Courts and Clerk of the Peace. From 1917 to 1931 he worked for the provincial government in Smithers. He donated land to the Hazelton - Smithers District hospitals. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, Eagles, Omineca Lodge No.92 A.F. & A.M., Grand Chap. Royal Arch Kaien, No.13, and the Royal Canadian Legion. He was married twice; his second wife's name was Caroline. His son, Ernest, was drowned in 1924. In his later years, his habit of handing out his son's favorite candy to everyone earned him the title of "The Peppermint King".