James Carroll (1840-May 19, 1912) was an Irish American steamboat captain who brought the first large steamboat to Alaska. Carroll was connected with the National Steamship Company. In 1878, Carroll became employed in the Alaska service, carrying tourists to Alaska from Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. In 1898, Carroll retired from seafaring, becoming an agent for the Alaska Commercial Company and for the Northern Lakes & Rivers Navigation Company. Eventually, he returned to the Pacific Coast Steamship Company to command the new steamer, Spokane, but retired again about 1906.