James M. Coale (died February 22, 1882) was an American politician and lawyer from Maryland.

His father was a surgeon on a naval cruiser during the Revolutionary War and afterward worked as a farmer in Frederick County.

[1] Coale served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County, from 1852 to 1853 and from 1861 to 1862.

[2][3] He was credited with defeating Edwin Stanton's plan to divide the eastern shore of Maryland into Delaware.

[2] His sister Sarah married state senator and delegate Thomas Sappington.