James Baines (1822 – 8 March 1889) was a British merchant, shipowner and shipbroker by trade.

He became famous as the founder of James Baines & Co. that ran a fleet of 86 ships on the Liverpool Black Ball line between England and Australia in 1851–1871.

[1] He was born in Upper Duke Street, Liverpool, the son of William Baines and Mary Picton.

After her husband died in 1829, his mother ran a very successful confectionery manufacturing business which provided a wedding cake for the Royal Family.

After the cessation of the Black Ball Line in 1871, James Baines operated four ships under his own name.