James McBain FRSE (1807-1879) was a Scottish Royal Navy surgeon and marine biologist.
Joining the Royal Navy in 1827 he was posted as Assistant Surgeon on the recently recommissioned HMS Undaunted.
In 1831 the captainship transferred to Edward Harvey and included a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.
In 1832 McBain joined the survey ship HMS Investigator under Captain Barber, plying between London and Quebec.
[2] He died at home, Logie Villa (named after his birthplace) on York Road in Trinity, Edinburgh[3] on 21 March 1879.