James Simpson (c. 1792 – 17 April 1857) was born in England and arrived in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) in April 1825 on board the Elizabeth. In March 1827 he was appointed police magistrate at Norfolk Plains and later at Campbell Town. In 1832 he moved to Hobart as commissioner of the Land Board. Dissatisfied with his prospects in Tasmania, Simpson joined the Port Phillip Association and in February 1836 offered his resignation to Lieutenant-governor Arthur who reluctantly reported to the Colonial Office that Simpson had "been infected with the Port Phillip mania."