James White (1821, Palmyra, Maine - 1881, Battle Creek, Michigan) Co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and husband of Ellen G. White. James White was pivotal in the organizational structure of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. In 1849 he started the first Sabbatarian Adventist periodical entitled the "Present Truth," in 1855 he relocated the fledgling center of the movement to Battle Creek, Michigan, and in 1863 played a pivotal role in the formal organization of the denomination. He later played a pivotal role in the develompent of the Adventist educational structure beginning in 1874 with the formation of Battle Creek College (which is today ).

James White was born on August 4, 1821 in the township of Palmyra in Maine. The fifth of nine children, James was a sickly child who suffered fits or seizures as a child. Poor eyesight prevented him from obtaining much of an education and he was forced to work on the family farm. At age 19 his eyesight improved and he enrolled in a local academy. He earned a teaching certificate and briefly taught elementary school. He was baptized into

The paper which James White initially started "Present Truth" was combined with another periodical called the "Advent Review" in 1850 to become the "Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald." This periodical became the main source of communication for the Sabbatarian Adventist movement as they debated points of doctrine and organization. It also became a venue for James and Ellen White to quickly and efficiently share their views to like-minded believers. James White served as editor of the periodical until 1851 when he invited Uriah Smith to become editor. James White would play a senior role in the management of church publications as president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association. He also served on several occasions as president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (1865-67; 1869-71; 1874-80).