James P. Lewis (September 8, 1869 – May 22, 1942) was an American educator, politician, and banker who served as Secretary of State of Kentucky from 1916 to 1920.

James P. Lewis was born on September 8, 1869, in Partridge, Letcher County, Kentucky, as the ninth out of eleven children born to Wilson Lewis and Katie Collier.

[2] He married Maria Caudill in 1895, they raised a large family of 11 children.

After leaving office, he was appointed Kentucky State Banking Commissioner by Edwin P. Morrow, a role which he held from 1920 to 1923.

[1] Lewis continued to have several business interests in Letcher County and Georgetown, Kentucky.