| James Joseph Ayers | |
| Office: | California State Printer |
| Appointer: | George Stoneman |
| Term Start: | January 10, 1883 |
| Term End: | January 13, 1887 |
| Predecessor: | John D. Young |
| Successor: | Philip A. Shuaff |
| Birth Date: | 27 August 1830 |
| Birth Place: | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Azusa, California, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery |
| Nationality: | Scotland |
| Known For: | Co-founding the San Francisco Call and the Los Angeles Express |
| Occupation: | Pioneer, printer, publisher, editor, politician |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | |
| Nickname: | "Colonel" |
James Joseph Ayers (August 27, 1830 - November 12, 1897) was a Scottish-American pioneer, newspaperman and politician who served one term as California State Printer from 1883 to 1887.[1] He co-founded several early newspapers in California, including the San Francisco Call and the Los Angeles Express.[2]
In 1878, he was elected a delegate to California's Second Constitutional Convention on a Non-Partisan ticket,[3] representing Los Angeles.[4] The next year, he was the Workingmen's Party nominee for Congress in the 4th district, coming in third place behind Democrat R. Wallace Leach and Republican Romualdo Pacheco.[5] In the 1882 California gubernatorial election, Ayers campaigned vigorously for Democratic candidate George Stoneman, who appointed him State Printer after his victory.[2]