James Coey (February 12, 1841 – July 14, 1918) was a United States military officer who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 147th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.

Twice brevetted for "conspicuous gallantry" and "meritorious service", he also received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, which was conferred on May 12, 1892, in recognition of his efforts to rally his brigade around regimental colors and inspire a charge on the enemy during the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia on February 6, 1865.

According to his Medal of Honor citation, which was awarded for his actions that day,[9] he grabbed his regiment's colors while urging his brigade to charge a Confederate army position.

Volunteers on April 9 of that year "for gallant and meritorious services during the war, and in the recent campaign, terminating in the surrender of General Robert E.

[8][7] According to his U.S. Civil War Pension records, he sustained a gunshot wound to the face, which resulted in total deafness in his right ear, facial paralysis, and the loss of smell.

[11] Following his honorable discharge from the military, Coey returned home to New York, where he resided in the town of Redfield with his widowed mother and brothers, William and Samuel, in 1865.

[15] According to the federal census, by 1870, Coey and his wife were residing at a sizeable boarding house operated by Harriet Hannah in the City of San Francisco's 10th Ward.

Still residing with his wife and two daughters on Jackson Street in San Francisco's 42nd Ward after the turn of the century, Coey had exchanged his life in public service for one in the mining industry.

[22] Preceded in death by his older brother, William, who died on April 21, 1895, James Coey lived on for more than two decades until passing away at his home at 2640 Derby Street in Berkeley, California on July 14, 1918.