James Gillespie (c. 1747 – January 11, 1805) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
Born in Scotland circa 1747, Gillespie immigrated to North Carolina prior to the American Revolutionary War. He served in the North Carolina militia during the war, attaining the rank of colonel. He was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons from 1781 to 1791, and served as speaker in 1789. He was a delegate to the North Carolina constitutional conventions of 1788 and 1789, voting for ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Gillespie was elected as an Anti-Administration candidate to the Second and Third Congresses (March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1795). He was then elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifth and Sixth Congresses (March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1801). He subsequently served in the North Carolina State Senate from 1801 to 1802.
In 1802, Gillespie was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democratic-Republican to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jesse Franklin. He served from December 6, 1802, until his resignation in 1803. He died near Goshen Hill, North Carolina, on January 11, 1805, and was interred in the Goshen Hill Cemetery.