James Matthews may refer to:
- Jim Matthews (politician), American politician from Pennsylvania
- James Ewen Matthews (1869–1950), Canadian member of parliament for Brandon
- James Herbert Matthews (1883–1972), Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member of the Canadian House of Commons
- James Tilly Matthews (1770–1815), London tea broker committed to Bethlem psychiatric hospital
- Jimmy Matthews (1884–1943), Australian cricketer
- James Matthews (footballer) (1876–1963), Australian rules footballer who played for North Adelaide and cricket for South Australia
- Jim Matthews (footballer, born 1880) (James Patrick Slattery Matthews, 1880–1940), Australian rules footballer
- Jim Matthews (sportsman) (James Aubrey Matthews, 1919–1999), Australian rules footballer and tennis player
- James Matthews (writer) (1929–2024), South African writer
- Jim Matthews (rugby league), Australian rugby league footballer
- James Matthews (hedge fund manager) (born 1975), British hedge fund manager and racing driver
- James Matthews (architect) (1819–1898), architect and lord provost of Aberdeen
- James Campbell Matthews (1844–1930), Albany, New York attorney and judge
- James Duncan Matthews (1850–1890), Scottish zoologist
- James Robert Matthews (1889–1978), Scottish botanist
- James S. Matthews, Louisiana state legislator
- Jim Matthews (writer) (1895–1982), New Zealand newspaper editor, gardening writer and horticulturist
- Jim Matthews (trade unionist) (James Matthews, 1903 or 1904–1969), British trade union leader
- James Brander Matthews (1852–1929), American writer