James Brown Clay (November 9, 1817 – January 26, 1864) was an American politician and diplomat who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Kentucky's 8th congressional district from 1857 to 1859.

Clay attended a boys' school associated with Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio (founded by family friend Bishop Philander Chase).

Clay did not run for renomination in 1858 and declined an appointment by President James Buchanan to a mission to Germany.

His father having died, Clay returned to Lexington and farmed using enslaved labor; his household also included three male boarders.

[2] Clay was a member of the Peace Conference of 1861 held in Washington, D.C., an attempt to prevent the impending American Civil War.