James Leckie Docherty was probably born in 1854 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His mother was Mary Leckie, and he was the uncle of Elizabeth Leckie Docherty. Before settling in Patagonia, James may have visited the Falkland Islands [Malvinas]. In Punta Arenas he operated as a hotelier and shipowner. Local records reveal the following events:

1894-1895: involved in two judicial cases
1898 formed a ranching company
1900 lodged a formal complaint about theft from his schooner
1904 traded in gold-mining shares
1913 naturalized Chilean citizen

James Docherty died in Punta Arenas in 1919. He did not marry.

Docherty family photo, UK, c1905. James is standing 2nd from right; his arm is round the shoulder of his niece Elizabeth Leckie Docherty, who later emigrated to Punta Arenas.