Charles James may refer to:
Charles James (27 April 1880 – 10 December 1928) was a chemist of British origin working in the United States. After studying under William Ramsay at University College London, he joined the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts (now the University of New Hampshire). He became a professor and head of the chemistry department, separating and identifying rare earth elements by fractional precipitation and crystallization. He isolated element 71, later named Lutetium.
In 1999 the American Chemical Society recognized Charles James's work in chemical separations as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.
Charles Daniel James (10 April 1891 – 6 August 1917) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer of the 1910s, playing at representative level for New Zealand (#45), and Nelson, as a wing, or centre, i.e. number 2 or 5, or, 3 or 4.
James won a cap for New Zealand during the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, playing left-wing in the 20-52 defeat by Great Britain at the Domain Cricket Ground, Auckland on Saturday 30 July 1910.
James served with the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade during World War I and was killed in France on 6 August 1917.