| James McDowell | |
| Order1: | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th district |
| Term Start1: | March 6, 1846 |
| Term End1: | March 3, 1851 |
| Predecessor1: | William Taylor |
| Successor1: | John Letcher |
| Order2: | 29th |
| Office2: | Governor of Virginia |
| Term Start2: | January 1, 1843 |
| Term End2: | January 1, 1846 |
| Successor2: | William Smith |
| Office3: | Member of the Virginia House of Delegates |
| Term3: | 1831–1835 1838 |
| Birth Date: | October 13, 1795 |
| Birth Place: | Rockbridge County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Death Date: | August 24, 1851 (aged 55) |
| Death Place: | Lexington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Party: | Democrat |
| Spouse: | Susanna Smith Preston |
| Signature: | Signature of James McDowell (1795–1851).png |
James McDowell (October 13, 1795 – August 24, 1851) was the 29th Governor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846 and was a U.S. Congressman from 1846 to 1851.
McDowell was born at "Cherry Grove," near Rockbridge County, Virginia, on October 13, 1795. He attended a classical school at Greenville, Virginia, a private school at Brownsburg, Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), Lexington, Virginia, and Yale College. He graduated from Princeton University in 1817 and studied law. He was admitted to the bar but did not practice. He was a member of the State house of delegates 1831–1835 and again in 1838. He was chosen as Governor of Virginia in 1843. He was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Taylor. He was reelected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses and served from March 6, 1846, to March 3, 1851. McDowell died on his estate "Col Alto" near Lexington on August 24, 1851. He was interred in Presbyterian Cemetery.
McDowell was the brother-in-law of Senator Thomas Hart Benton. McDowell County, Virginia (now part of West Virginia) was formed in 1858 and named in honor of Governor McDowell.[1]