James Frederick Joy (December 2, 1810 – September 24, 1896) was an American railroad magnate and politician in Detroit, Michigan.

Joy organized the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and was for many years its president.

In 1872 he was president and a director of the Michigan Central Railroad, drawing a salary of $8,000 (~$203,467 in 2023) per year.

[2] In 1873 he became president and a director of the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan Railroad, taking over from H.H.

At the 1880 Republican National Convention, he gave a speech nominating James G. Blaine for president.