James Riley may refer to:
- James Riley (captain) (1777–1840), captain of the American merchant ship Commerce
- James McIlvaine Riley (1849–1911), co-founder of the Sigma Nu fraternity
- Doc Middleton (James M. Riley, 1851–1913), outlaw and horse thief
- James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916), American writer and poet
- James Riley (gunman) (1853–?), American gunfighter
- James Riley (born c. 1972), American soldier captured in Iraq, see American POWs in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
- James Riley (soccer) (born 1982), American soccer player
- James Riley (footballer), English association footballer
- James Riley (cricketer) (1860–1937), English cricketer
Famous quotes containing the words james and/or riley:
“Habit is thus the enormous fly-wheel of society, its most precious conservative agent. It alone is what keeps us all within the bounds of ordinance, and saves the children of fortune from the envious uprisings of the poor.”
—William James (1843–1916)
“Little Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay,
An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away,”
—James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916)