James Patrick Howley (born 7 July 1847 near St. John's, Newfoundland and died 1 January 1918 at St. John's) was a naturalist and geologist, one of the first Canadians of European descent to visit the interior of the Island of Newfoundland at Bay du Nord River system.
Howley, son of Richard Howley and Eliza Burke was educated at Saint Bonaventure's College, St. John's Newfoundland. For a time he worked in the office of the colonial secretary, but his fame came when he participated in the geographical and topographical survey of the colony of Newfoundland. In 2016, he was named a National Historic Person.
His son William served in the Newfoundland assembly.
In May 2009 W.J. Kirwin and P.A. O'Flaherty published an edited version of Howley's Reminiscences of Forty-two Years of Exploration in and about Newfoundland.