James Thomas Brownlie (23 June 1865 – 13 October 1938) was a British trade unionist and politician. Born in Port Glasgow, Brownlie was educated at Wason’s Academy in Paisley. He became an apprentice blacksmith, then changed to an engineering apprenticeship. In the late 1880s, he moved to London to work at the Royal Arsenal, and became active in the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE). Brownlie retired from his trade union posts in 1930. He stood for Labour at the Sunderland by-election in 1931, taking 39.8% of the votes cast, but did not stand in the general election later the same year.