James Owen (American politician)

James Owen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 5th district
In office March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819
Preceded by	Charles Hooks
Succeeded by	Charles Hooks
Member of the North Carolina House of Commons from Bladen County
In office November 21, 1808 – December 23, 1811
Preceded by	David Gillespie
Succeeded by	David Gillespie
Personal details
Born	(1784-12-07)December 7, 1784 Bladen County, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	September 4, 1865(1865-09-04) (aged 80) Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Resting place	Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Eliza Murley Mumford
Relatives	John Owen (brother)
Education	Pittsboro Academy
Profession	Planter politician military officer
Military service
Branch/service	North Carolina militia
Rank	Adjutant general
Battles/wars	War of 1812

James Owen (December 7, 1784 – September 4, 1865) was an American politician from North Carolina, a planter, major-general, businessman, and enslaver, including of Omar ibn Said. He was educated at William Bingham's Academy in Pittsboro. Subsequently, he was for many years president of the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad and an adjutant general of the North Carolina militia in the War of 1812. His brother John Owen was governor of North Carolina. Owen was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons from 1808 to 1811 and a Democratic-Republican party U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 5th congressional district from 1817 to 1819. He died in 1865 and was interred at Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington. He was a devoted Presbyterian and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and an officer in the Fayetteville chapter of the American Bible Society.

Omar ibn Said describing his two enslavers

References

• United States Congress. "James Owen (id: O000151)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4)