James Pagan (18 October 1811 – 11 February 1870) was a Scottish reporter and managing editor for the Glasgow Herald and a noted antiquarian.

[1] He is credited with transitioning the Herald from a tri-weekly publication to one of the first daily newspapers in Scotland as well as greatly improving the standard of reporting in that country.

[1] Not long after he began writing for the Herald, his talents as a descriptive writer were recognised by the London press and he was offered a position as a reporter for The Times.

[3]: 255  During his time as sub-editor, Pagan was credited with improving the newspaper's layout and with developing a "bolder" editorial tone, including the introduction of leading articles.

[1] Private verses on the wedding of James Pagan and Ann Mcnight-Kerr, by Alexander Rodger, Glasgow Poet[3]: 256 He lilts a good sang owre a tankard o' ale; He cracks a sly joke too, wi' humorous glee, But nane lashes vice so severely as he.

And ilk body likes him whaurever he gangs, Sae fond o' his stories, his jokes, and his sangs; But the thing he's maist prized for by every degree,

Is the generous heart ever open and free.In addition to his work on the Herald, Pagan was an avid student of Glaswegian history, and published a number of books on the topic.

[3]: 256 [4] Pagan's politics were rarely discussed by his biographers, but one author points to the Herald's harsh stance on the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and its long-time support of the Confederacy in the US Civil War to suggest that he was conservative in his views.