James Dunning was a surgeon and apothecary based in Beaminster.

He was born in 1751 and was baptised in Corscombe on 14th June with his parents named as Bishop & Elizabeth.

On 23rd May, 1782 he was granted admission on a copyholdType of feudal land tenure
with duties and obligations
to the Lord of the Manor lease for the house in Netherbury that is now called Yew Tree Cottages

He is listed as Master to an Apprentice, John Young, in a 1790 register of Country Apprentices (1710-1808).

The Land Tax Redemption of 1798 shows him as the occupier of a property in East Street, Beaminster which was owned by "Dr Adney" as well as being the owner and occupier of a smaller property apparently next door. His father Bishop Dunning is listed as both a tenant of Thomas Cook Esq (of Slape Manor) and an owner/occupier of a smaller, next-door, property a few doors away from James, also in East Street.

He appears to have been buried on 4th Feb, 1799 in St Marys, Beaminster having died on 30th Jan with his entry in the register of burials labelling him "James Dunning M.D." A copy of his will survives in the register of the Prerogative Court of Cantebury which was granted probate on 14th Aug, 1799.