James Henry Roper (c. 1835 - 1883) was an educator, state senator and school founder in Florida.
He moved to Gainesville in 1856. He represented Alachua County in the Florida Senate. He built Gainesville Academy in 1858. A few years later he offered it as a new site for East Florida Seminary and served as the school’s principal after its move.[1] Gainesville competed with Lake City, home of Florida Agricultural College, for the newly organized University of Florida.[2]
Gainesville’s Roper Park is named for him.[3]