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:
“... if we take the universe of ‘fitting,’ countless coats ‘fit’ backs, and countless boots ‘fit’ feet, on which they are not practically fitted; countless stones ‘fit’ gaps in walls into which no one seeks to fit them actually. In the same way countless opinions ‘fit’ realities, and countless truths are valid, tho no thinker ever thinks them.”
—William James (1842–1910)