James Burnes (born January 14, 1870, date of death unknown) was a Private serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Boxer Rebellion who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

Burnes was born January 14, 1870, in Worcester, Massachusetts, and enlisted into the Marine Corps from Mare Island, California on June 9, 1898.

[1] After entering the Marine Corps he was sent as a private to China to fight in the Boxer Rebellion.

[2] He was serving in Tientsin, China, on June 20, 1900, and along with three other Marines crossed a river in a small boat under heavy enemy fire to destroy several buildings that were occupied by hostile forces.

Crossing the river in a small boat with 3 other men while under a heavy fire from the enemy, Burnes assisted in destroying buildings occupied by hostile forces.