James M. Edmunds (August 23, 1810 – December 14, 1879) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.

In 1847, he was a Whig candidate for Governor of Michigan, losing to Epaphroditus Ransom.

[1] In 1853 he moved to Detroit, engaged in the lumber business, extending his operations to Saginaw and Tuscola counties.

[1] In 1861, Edmunds resigned as comptroller when he was appointed by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, commissioner of the United States General Land Office of Washington, and held it until 1866.

He was also president of the National Council of the Union League from 1862 to 1869 and for a number of years published The Republic, a Washington magazine.