James Whitfield (December 15, 1791 – June 25, 1875) was an American politician.

He served until United States Senator Henry S. Foote, who had been elected governor, could complete his service in the Senate and resign from that body.

In the same year, he built a house in Columbus known as Snowdoun, featured annually on a local tour of homes.

It was here that Jefferson Davis stayed while campaigning across the state for the U.S. Senate.

The home was later visited by author Julian Street as he traveled across the Southern U.S. compiling notes for his book American Adventures in 1915.