Major James Francis Thomas (25 July 1861 – 11 November 1942), was a solicitor from Tenterfield, New South Wales.

As Major Thomas, he defended Lieutenants Peter Joseph Handcock, George Ramsdale Witton, and Harry "Breaker" Morant, of the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) of the British Army, in their trial for the murder of nine Boer prisoners-of-war during the Second Boer War.

[1] He was educated at The King's School, Parramatta,[2] and at the University of Sydney.

He served as an articled clerk in a reputable Sydney law practice.

[4] He was also the owner-operator of the Tenterfield Star newspaper for sixteen years, from 1898.