James Thomas Helby (1842 - 29 August 1924) was a businessman and educationist. Born in Portsmouth, by the 1880s he was in business in London. He resided at Herne Hill and later at Lower Tooting. For six years he was a member of the London School Board as one of the representatives of Lambeth West from 1885-1888. Standing as the "Ratepayer's Friend", he took the Moderate Party whip on the board and was chairman of the board's Works Committee. He was a controversial figure, described by the The Daily News as "the great champion of sectarianism under the guise of economy" and was defeated at the 1891 election.