James Johnston was a flax merchant and Unionist politician who served as Lord Mayor during 1917 and 1918.

James, the son of William Johnson of Killinchy Woods, Co. Down, was born on 29 November 1949. He came to Belfast in his teens to work in the flax trade and founded his own business selling flax and other textiles at 32 Donegall Street.

Johnston entered the Belfast Corporation as a councillor for Cromac ward in 1894. In 1898, he was returned as councillor for St Anne’s ward and retained the seat until his retirement on grounds of health in 1922. Johnston served as chairman of the Corporation’s Finance Committee and chairman of the Electricity Committee.

He was appointed High Sheriff in 1912 was knighted by Field Marshall Lord French, Viceroy of Ireland, in 1918. The following year he was appointed as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. Johnston acted as Deputy Speaker in the Northern Ireland Senate from 1921 to 1923. The Corporation granted Johnston freedom of the city of Belfast in January 1923.