Sir James Shelley KBE (1884–1961) was a notable New Zealand university professor, educationalist, lecturer, critic and director of broadcasting. He was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, in 1884. Shelley was born in England in 1883. After graduating from Cambridge he taught for year, then lectured at various English training colleges and in the Education Dept. of Manchester University Taught for one year, before taking up posts at training colleges and University of Manchester.