James Fairbairn, a banker, lived at No. 3 from about 1858 to 1862. He was born in Edinburgh on 14 March 1817, son of bookseller John Fairbairn and his wife Sarah Morris. Before moving to Malta Terrace, he lived at 25 Warriston Crescent, where he was living with his parents at the time of the 1851 census. In 1863 he was living again in Warriston Crescent. James Fairbairn worked for the Bank of Scotland. He died on 31 May 1891 at his home in Dublin Street, Edinburgh.
James Fairbairn married Eliza Smith (1834-1927), daughter of civil engineer Hugh Aird Smith, on 20 September 1855, at Newcastle. Two of their five children were born at No. 3 Malta Terrace, Helena Fairbairn on 5 September 1858, and Hugh Aird Robert Fairbairn on 2 May 1861. Their eldest son, John William Fairbairn (born 8 July 1856), would also have lived at No. 3.