James Kennedy (13 January 1797 – 25 September 1886) was a Scottish locomotive and marine engineer.

He spent some years working as a millwright, working with winding and pumping engines at several places before moving to Laverock Hall (now Larkhall) near Hamilton, where he was employed to erect pumping and winding engines of his own design.

While in this post, Kennedy constructed two pairs of stationary winding engines[clarification needed] and planned the first three locomotives for the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.

In 1825 he left Stephenson to return to Liverpool as manager of Mather, Dixon and Company but very soon joined locomotive builder Edward Bury and Company as foreman of the Clarence Foundry.

From 1844 he also acted as manager of the Liverpool shipbuilder Thomas Vernon and Son where he introduced iron deck beams.