Sir James Stuart, 3rd Baronet, of Bute, created 1st Earl of Bute, MP, PC (1661 – 4 June 1710), was a Scottish soldier, advocate, judge and politician.
He was the son of Sir Dugald Stuart, 2nd Baronet, and his wife Elizabeth Ruthven, daughter of Sir John Ruthven.
He was three times elected as Shire Commissioner for Bute (1685–1686, 1689–1693 and 1702–1703), and was Sheriff of Argyll in 1686.
He was created 1st Viscount Kingarth, Lord Mountstuart, Cumra and Inchmarnock, and 1st Earl of Bute on 14 April 1703.
He died on 4 June 1710 at Bath, Somerset, and was buried at Rothesay, Scotland.