James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss (30 August 1699 – 21 March 1756) was the son of David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss.
He was key to securing his father-in-law's release from Newgate after he was sentenced to hang for the capital felony of rape.
His son, the seventh Earl, legally changed his name to Charteris, his mother's maiden name, on his inheritance of Colonel Charteris's estates and fortune built upon gambling.
On 17 September 1720, he married Janet Charteris, heiress of the great Colonel Francis Charteris, and they had four children:
| Masonic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Earl of Kilmarnock |
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland 1744–1745 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Moray |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by David Wemyss |
Earl of Wemyss 1720–1756 |
Succeeded by David Wemyss |