James T. Bates (29 September 1844 – 24 December 1914, age 70) was an American businessman who founded the daily newspaper Tribune de Genève on 1 February 1879. The son of Joseph C. Bates, a shipowner, James Bates was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He enlisted at age 17 in the Union army, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at age 21. He became a stockbroker in New York City. In 1873, he married Amélie, the daughter of Arthur Chenevière. After making a fortune in the States, he settled in 1875 in Geneva, Switzerland, the hometown of his wife. Bates died in Geneva on 24 December 1914.