Eric James, Baron James of Rusholme

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Eric John Francis James, Baron James of Rusholme (13 April 1909 – 16 May 1992) was a prominent British educator.

James was the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, serving from 1962 to 1973. Before that, he was the High Master of Manchester Grammar School.

He had well-known and controversial views on the importance of meritocracy and took very seriously "the University's obligation to be a cultural and educational force in the region". His three cardinal principles for the University of York were:

• it should be collegiate in character
• it should deliberately aim to limit the range of subjects
• much of the teaching should be by tutorials and seminars

James was created a life peer as Baron James of Rusholme, of Fallowfield in the County Palatine of Lancashire, in 1959. He was married to Cordelia Wintour, paternal aunt of the fashion magazine editor Anna Wintour and the British journalist Patrick Wintour.

He was the father of Professor Oliver James, pro-vice chancellor of the Newcastle University, a leading British hepatologist.