James Johnston (c. 1820- 1875) was a politician in Queensland, Australia.
He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
He was the son of Robert Melrose and Jane Johnston.
He married Ellen Severight in Dundee, Scotland.
On 7 July 1876, he was elected to the Queensland parliament as the member for the electoral district of Bulimba,[2][3] but served only 119 days before his death in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 3 November 1876.