James Habersham (26 January 1712 – 28 August 1775) was an English-born American merchant, planter, missionary, teacher and politician who lived the majority of his life in the Province of Georgia.

After July 1776, both he and brother John enlisted in the Georgia Line of the Continental Army, while James Jr. contributed to the revolution through political and financial service.

The senior Habersham's death in 1775 prevented the painful family division from extending into the war years.

In addition to Whitefield, Habersham was associated with William Piercy, an English curate whom the Countess of Huntington had appointed to serve as president of Bethesda Orphanage near Savannah, Georgia.

After the ban on slavery in Georgia was lifted, his rice fields developed into a massive 15,000-acre plantation worked by 200 slaves.

He was a senior counselor to the royal government of the colony and in 1754 was appointed Secretary of Georgia by King George II.