James Breck Perkins (1847-1910) was an American historian, legislator and writer.

He was born in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and graduated at the University of Rochester, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, in 1867. He served as city attorney of Rochester, New York from 1874 to 1878, became a member of the New York Assembly (1898), and served as a representative in Congress from 1901 until his death.

Recognized as the leading authority in the particular historical field to which he devoted himself, he was honored by membership in the National Institute of Arts and Letters. His writings include:

• France under Mazarin (1887)
• France under Louis XV (1897)
• Richelieu (1900), in the "Heroes of the Nations Series"
• France in the American Revolution (1911)

• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain