James Balfour may refer to:
- James Balfour, Lord Pittendreich (c. 1525–1583), Scottish judge and politician
- Sir James Balfour, 1st Baronet (c. 1600–c. 1658), Scottish annalist and antiquary and Lord Lyon King of Arms from 1650–1658
- James Balfour (philosopher) (1705–1795), Scottish philosopher
- James Balfour (clergyman) (1731–1809), Newfoundland Church of England clergyman
- James Balfour (British Army officer) (born c.1745), Commander-in-chief of Bombay, 1794; colonel of the 83rd Regiment
- James Balfour (Scottish politician) (died 1845), Member of Parliament for Anstruther Burghs 1826–1831 and Haddingtonshire 1831–1835
- James Maitland Balfour (1820–1856), Scottish politician
- James Balfour (Australian politician) (1830–1913), Scottish-born Australian merchant and politician
- James Balfour (architect) (1854–1917), Canadian architect from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- James Balfour (mayor) (1867–?), educator, lawyer and political figure in Saskatchewan, Canada
- James Balfour (Canadian politician) (1928–1999)
Famous quotes containing the word james:
“We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life. If he does not join the general scramble and pant with the money-making street, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition.”
—William James (1842–1910)