James Hay Erskine Wemyss

James Hay Erskine Wemyss was born on 29 August 1829. He was a Scottish politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Fife from 1859 until his death in 1864. His parentage includes Rear-Admiral James Erskine Wemyss and Lady Emma Hay.

His paternal grandparents were William Wemyss and Frances Erskine, the latter being a daughter of Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet. His maternal grandparents were William Hay, the 17th Earl of Erroll, and Alicia Eliot, the daughter of Samuel Eliot of Antigua. His family had connections to the British royal family through his uncle, William Hay, the 18th Earl of Erroll, who married Lady Elizabeth FitzClarence, an illegitimate daughter of King William IV.

In his professional career, Wemyss was elected as a Member of Parliament for Fife in the general election of 1859. On 5 February 1864, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Fife and Sheriff Principal of the shire of Fife, succeeding the Earl of Elgin in these positions.

He married Millicent Anne Mary Kennedy-Erskine on 17 April 1855 at All Saints' Church in Knightsbridge. She was the daughter of the Hon. John Kennedy-Erskine, son of the 1st Marquess of Ailsa, and Lady Augusta FitzClarence, an illegitimate daughter of King William IV.

James Hay Erskine Wemyss and Millicent had several children:

- Mary Frances Erskine Wemyss (1856–1936), who married Cecil Stratford Paget, son of General Lord George Paget, in 1882.

- Dora Mina Erskine Wemyss (1856–1894), who married Lord Henry Grosvenor, third son of Hugh Grosvenor, the 1st Duke of Westminster.

- Randolph Gordon Erskine Wemyss (1858–1908), who inherited the Wemyss estates and was the ancestor of the current Chief of Clan Wemyss.

- Hugo Erskine Wemyss (1861–1933), who served as Comptroller of the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg's household in Britain.

- Rosslyn Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss (1864–1933), who served as First Sea Lord during the First World War.

James Hay Erskine Wemyss died on 29 March 1864. His eldest son, Randolph, succeeded him in the estates.

Through his daughter Dora, he was a grandfather to William Grosvenor, the 3rd Duke of Westminster. His son Randolph was the grandfather of Michael Erskine-Wemyss, who married Lady Victoria Cavendish-Bentinck, daughter of William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland, and was the last surviving godchild of Queen Victoria until her death in 1994.