James Ryan (6 December 1891 – 25 September 1970) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Finance from 1957 to 1965, Minister for Health from 1947 to 1948 and 1951 to 1954, Minister for Social Welfare from 1947 to 1948 and 1951 to 1954 and Minister for Agriculture from 1932 to 1947.
He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Wexford from 1918 to 1965.Ryan was born in Taghmon, County Wexford, and studied Medicine at University College Dublin.
A founder-member of the Irish Volunteers, he saw action during the Easter Rising and War of Independence and was opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
After a period on the opposition benches, he was appointed Minister for Agriculture when Fianna Fáil came to power in March 1932.
Ryan remained in that position for almost fifteen years until he became the first Minister for Health and Social Welfare in January 1947.
When Fianna Fáil returned to power after a three-year absence in 1951, Ryan was once again appointed Minister for Health and Social Welfare.
He was promoted to Minister for Finance in 1957 and oversaw a period of economic expansion before his retirement from the government in 1965.
Ryan finished his career as a member of Seanad Éireann.