James Heald (1 March 1796 – 26 October 1873) was a Manchester banker, evangelical Methodist philanthropist, and single-term Member of Parliament, representing Stockport as a Peelite free trade Conservative from 1847 to 1852.
Born in Brinnington, near Stockport, Heald was brought up as a Methodist, but considered becoming an Anglican clergyman.
Instead, he joined his father's calico printing business, later moving to Parrs Wood House.
He stood in Stockport for the Conservative Party at the 1847 UK general election, winning a seat.
[1] Heald contested Stockport again at the 1852 UK general election, but was defeated.