James Shedden Palmer (October 13, 1810 – December 7, 1867) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Civil War.

Appointed to command the West Indies Squadron in 1865, he was commissioned rear admiral on July 25, 1866, and died at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Palmer was commanding officer of Iroquois, which was part of the U.S. Mediterranean Squadron at the time of the attack on Fort Sumter.

Promoted to captain for his role in the victory at New Orleans in July of that year, the following month he took command of Farragut's flagship Hartford.

While still commanding the North Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admiral James S. Palmer died of yellow fever at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.