James Tough Cleland was born on July 8, 1903 in Glasgow, Scotland to the Rev. James Cleland and Margaret Curdie Cleland. He married Alice Mean on September 7, 1932. Cleland earned degrees from Glasgow University (M.A., 1924 and Ecclesiastical History, with distinction, B.D., 1927) and Union Theological Seminary, New York (S.T.M., summa cum laude, 1928, and Th.D., 1954).

After 14 years in the religion department at Amherst College, he arrived at Duke in 1945. At Duke, Cleland was Professor of Preaching in the Divinity School from 1945 to 1968. After his 1968 retirement, he became Professor Emeritus. He was also Dean of the Duke University Chapel from 1955 until 1973, and was the only person to hold both positions. His honors at Duke University included the James B. Duke professorship, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa, Order of Red Friars, and Alpha Omega Alpha.

Cleland held many lectureships at international pulpits. He was a guest of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force Chiefs of Chaplains as preacher at each of the service academies. He also conducted worship services at the Air Force's most northern location (Thule, Greenland) and professional seminars for Air Force Chaplains in Alaska, Japan, and Philippines. Additionally, Dr. Cleland delivered the opening prayer for the U.S. Senate (January 19, 1960) and gave sermons at debutante balls, military chapels, college and university chapels, and at preparatory schools. Throughout his career, he was in constant demand by students and alumni as well as churches, prep schools, and colleges on the east coast. One year he preached 13 baccalaureate sermons; he preached one sermon 86 times.

Some of Dr. Cleland's writings include a biography of James H. Tufts, , , , and . He wrote three exposition sections in Volumes II and VI of . He has had sermons published in five volumes of . He has also contributed 86 articles to "Preaching Clinic" in , a periodical for all United States Military Chaplains. His areas of research included the Epistles of Paul, preaching to groups, chaplain education, and interdenominational church groups. He also consulted with chaplains and doctors about care for terminally ill patients and death with dignity.

The Cleland family traveled internationally, keeping detailed journals of daily events. During 1938-1939, they traveled to Europe and the Middle East where they recorded interactions with Nazi party members and German Jews. The Cleland's travels to the Philippines and Japan gives insight into the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. The Clelands also made many trips from the United States to Scotland and England. James Cleland was frequently called to preach around the United States and the Clelands made vacations of these trips.

In spring 1973, after 28 years of dedicated and distinguished service to Duke University, Dr. Cleland retired. He continued to serve as dean of the chapel for several more years.

Brown House on Duke University's East Campus was renamed "Cleland House" after Dr. James T. Cleland. Dr. Cleland and his wife were advisors to the students of Brown House.

When Cleland died in 1974, the James T. Cleland Chapel Endowment Fund was established in his honor. The fund provides for distinguished visiting preachers and musicians, development of the choral program, and general enrichment of Chapel worship. Cleland was further honored by House Joint Resolution 248, "A Joint Resolution Honoring the Life and Memory of James T. Cleland," on February 27, 1979. The ashes of James T. Cleland, and his wife, Alice M. Cleland, are interred at the Duke University Chapel.