James Ford Bell (August 16, 1879 – May 7, 1961), was an American business leader and philanthropist, was the founder of General Mills in 1928.

In 1918 he assisted Herbert Hoover's European Hunger Relief Mission and was awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown and membership in the French Legion of Honor.

His collection of rare books devoted to the history of early modern trade comprises the basis for the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota.

A lifelong hunter, Bell was very interested in waterfowl biology and the importance of habitat in supporting healthy populations of ducks, geese and other marshland species.

The company's research campus is named The James Ford Bell Technical Center, in his honor.