James Austin (businessman)

James Austin (March 6, 1813 – February 27, 1897) was a nineteenth century Toronto businessman and the owner of Spadina House, now a museum.

He was born in Tandragee, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, to a Methodist family.

He immigrated to Canada at age sixteen along with his parents and became apprenticed to a printer, William Lyon Mackenzie.

While not directly involved, his close association with Mackenzie led Austin to flee to the United States following the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.

His business interests and his home passed on to his surviving son, Albert William Austin.