James Heald

James Heald (1 March 1796 – 26 October 1873) was a Manchester banker, evangelical Methodist philanthropist, and single-term Member of Parliament, representing Stockport as a Peelite free trade Conservative from 1847 to 1852.

Born in Brinnington, near Stockport, Heald was brought up as a Methodist, but considered becoming an Anglican clergyman. Instead, he joined his father's calico printing business, later moving to Parrs Wood House. He led the foundation of a northern branch of the Theological Institution in Didsbury.

Heald became a magistrate for both Lancashire and Cheshire, and also served as a deputy lieutenant of Cheshire. He stood in Stockport for the Conservative Party at the 1847 UK general election, winning a seat. Unusually for a Conservative, he supported free trade. He was opposed to Catholic clergy receiving endowments.