James Whyte (30 March 1820 – 20 August 1882) was a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as the sixth Premier of Tasmania, from 20 January 1863 to 24 November 1866.

He and his brothers perpetrated the Fighting Hills massacre of 40–80 Aboriginal people in Victoria while recovering stolen sheep.

The family emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) in 1832, and as a young man Whyte was a pioneer sheep-farmer in Victoria's western district with his brothers, managing the approximately 57,000 acre Kononwotong sheep run near present-day Coleraine, Victoria.

[3] Whyte and his brothers are recognised as pioneers of Coleraine, Victoria with the Main Street named after them.

In 1840 James, his brothers and their convict servants perpetrated the Fighting Hills massacre – their party killing between 40 and 80 Jardwadjali Aboriginal people while recovering stolen sheep.