James Hanley was born in Roscommon, Ireland. His family emigrated to America during the potato famine of 1845 when James was just four years old. His father found work as a laborer in an Irish section of Providence, Rhode Island. At age 18 Hanley established a retail liquor business in that town which he rapidly grew into a wholesale company. In 1875 he partnered with John P. Cooney to purchase the Merchant's Brewery on Jackson and Fountain Streets from the estate of John Bligh. Four years later Hanley bought out his partner's stake and renamed the firm James Hanley & Co., a Brewery in which he produced primarily ale. He grew this brewery into the largest of its kind in New England. He also established the Providence Brewing Company as a manufactory for lager beer. He controlled the distribution of his product through the Hanley-Hoye wholesale liquor company. He was also director of the Union Trust company and the National Exchange Bank. He invested widely in real estate and thoroughbred horses. Despite his lowly beginnings he was widely admired and respected in his later years. Hanley died suddenly on August 31st 1912. He was 75 years of age. His brewery survived prohibition and closed in 1957. His products were picked up by the Falstaff Brewery and beer and ale with the Hanley name continued to be made until the 1980s.

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