James Stuart PC (2 January 1843 – 12 October 1913) was a British educator and politician. He was born in Markinch, Fife, and attended Madras College and the University of St Andrews before going to Trinity College, Cambridge. He later became a Fellow of the College and Professor of Mechanism and Applied Mechanics at Cambridge University from 1875; he was also Lord Rector of St Andrews from 1898 to 1901. Stuart was interested in popularising scientific topics and published several books on the subject.