James Geddes (July 22, 1763 – August 19, 1838) was born in Carlisle in the Province of Pennsylvania and was a prominent engineer, surveyor, New York State legislator and U.S.

He was also at the forefront of development of the salt industry at Onondaga Lake near Syracuse, New York beginning in 1794.

The son of a Scottish farmer, Geddes eventually settled in 1794 at the head of Onondaga Lake in what was to become Onondaga County, New York, where he investigated the brine springs and set up a salt works at Geddesburgh, now Solvay.

Based in part on Geddes' recommendations,[3] the Legislature established a canal commission in 1810 .

Geddes was one of five engineers chosen in 1816 to supervise the construction of the Erie Canal.