General James Coates (December 1739 – 22 July 1822) was a British Army officer who became colonel of the 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot.

Coates was commissioned as an ensign in the 19th Regiment of Foot on 25 December 1755.

[2] He commanded his regiment at the Battle of Monck's Corner in April 1780 and at the Siege of Ninety-Six in May 1781 during the American Revolutionary War and commanded a brigade during the Flanders Campaign.

[2] He went on to be colonel of the 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot on 20 December 1794.

She died shortly after the birth of their son, Major James Richard Coates, of the 69th Regiment of Foot (20 May 1767 - October 1811).