James Tufts (September 19, 1829–August 18, 1884) was a United States politician and acting governor of Montana Territory in 1869.

[1] Born in Charlestown, New Hampshire, Tufts graduated from Middlebury College in 1855.

He was appointed US Commissioner to adjust military claims in the Dakota Territory in 1862.

[3][4] Tufts ran for the Montana territorial delegate to the United States House of Representatives and lost the election.

He moved back to Niobrara, Nebraska, to farm and practice law.