James Whelan may refer to: James Roger Whelan (1914–1985), Royal Air Force officer James Whelan (Pennsylvania politician) (born 1936), former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives James Whelan (bishop) (1823–1878), Roman Catholic Bishop of Nashville (1860–1864) Jim Whelan (1948–2017), American Democratic Party politician in the New Jersey State Senate Jim Whelan (footballer) (1871–1949), Australian rules footballer James R. Whelan (1933–2012), journalist and historian James Whelan (cyclist) (born 1996), Australian cyclist