James Metcalfe (1822 – September 13, 1886) was an Ontario businessman and political figure.

He represented York East in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal member from 1867 to 1878.

[1] He was born in Cumberland, England in 1822,[1] the son of James Metcalfe and Anne Finlinson and was educated in Manchester.

In 1841, Metcalfe emigrated to Upper Canada and worked as a building contractor in Toronto.

In 1851, he went to Australia, again working as a contractor builder in Melbourne, where he built several public buildings.