H. James Palmer (August 26, 1851 – December 22, 1939) was the 11th premier of Prince Edward Island and the son of former colonial Premier Edward Palmer.

Palmer entered the provincial legislature as a Liberal upon winning a seat in the election of 1900.

In May 1911 he became premier when Francis Longworth Haszard was appointed to the Supreme Court of the province.

At the time, members of the legislature who became Premier were required to resign their seats and run for re-election in a by-election.

The loss of Palmer's seat also caused the Liberal government to lose their majority in the legislature and the lieutenant governor asked the leader of the opposition, John A. Mathieson, to form a new government.