James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose, KG, KT, PC (8 September 1755 – 30 December 1836), styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.

Montrose was the son of William Graham, 2nd Duke of Montrose, and Lady Lucy Manners, daughter of John Manners, 2nd Duke of Rutland.^[1]

Montrose was Member of Parliament for Richmond from 1780, and for Great Bedwyn from 1784 to 1790, when he succeeded his father in the dukedom. According to Robert Bain, Scotland can thank him for the repeal in 1782 of the Dress Act 1746 prohibiting the wearing of tartans.^[2] He served as a Lord of the Treasury from 1783 to 1789, and as co-Paymaster of the Forces from 1789 to 1791. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor and Vice-President of the Board of Trade in 1789. He was Master of the Horse from 1790 to 1795, and from 1807 to 1821, Commissioner for India from 1791 to 1803, Lord Justice General of Scotland from 1795 to 1836, President of the Board of Trade from 1804 to 1806, Lord Chamberlain from 1821 to 1827 and from 1828 to 1830.

He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1793, resigning from the Order when appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1812. He was Chancellor of the University of Glasgow from 1780 to 1836, Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire from 1790 to 1793, Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire from 1795 until his death, and Lord Lieutenant of Dumbartonshire from 1813 until his death.

Graham was a very effective member of the House of Commons, especially when speaking on Scottish topics. Early in his career as a minister under William Pitt the Younger, Graham was attacked in the Rolliad:

——Superior to abuse,

He nobly glories in the name of GOOSE;

Such Geese at Rome from the perfidious Gaul

Preserv'd the Treas'ry-Bench and Capitol, &c. &c

Montrose was twice married. He married firstly Lady Jemima Ashburnham, daughter of John Ashburnham, 2nd Earl of Ashburnham, in 1785. His first wife died in September 1786, aged 24 (following the death of their only son born on 4 September 1786, who died as an infant in April 1787).

After her death, he married secondly Lady Caroline Montagu, daughter of George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester and Duchess of Manchester, on 24 July 1790. They had seven children:

1. Lady Georgiana-Charlotte, born 1791. Married George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea.
2. Lady Caroline, born September 1792.
3. Lady Lucy, born October 1793. Married Edward Herbert, Viscount Clive (Later 2nd Earl of Powis). Grandson of Clive of India.
4. James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose, born 16 July 1799.
5. Lady Martha, died in infancy.
6. Lady Emily, born in 1805. Married Edward Thomas Foley, grandson of Lord Foley.
7. Montagu-William, born February 1807.^[3][4]

Montrose died at Grosvenor Square in December 1836, aged 81, and was succeeded in the dukedom by his son, James. The Duchess of Montrose died in March 1847, aged 76.^[5]