James Henry O'Brien (July 15, 1860 – September 2, 1924 in Brooklyn) was an American politician from New York.

O'Brien was born in Jamaica, Queens County, New York on July 15, 1860.

[1] He attended the public schools in Queens, and graduated from Browne's Business College in Brooklyn.

[1] O'Brien worked as a machinist and mechanical engineer, and later owned and operated the J. H. O'Brien Scale & Supply Company, a business that manufactured commercial scales and equipment used in constructing overhead tramways.

[1] They were the parents of four sons and three daughters; William, James, Thomas, Edward, Geraldine, Anna, and Estelle.