James Cowan may refer to:
- James Cowan (Ontario politician) (1803–1900), politician in Canada West
- James Cowan (Scottish politician) (1816–1895), Liberal Member of Parliament for Edinburgh 1874–1882
- James Cowan (South Australian politician), South Australian politician
- James Cowan (footballer) (1868–1918), eminent Aston Villa footballer of the 19th century
- James Cowan (New Zealand writer) (1870–1943), New Zealand writer of the 20th century
- James Cowan (Manitoba politician) (1914–1997), Manitoba politician from the 20th century
- James Cowan (Manitoba physician) (1831–1910), Manitoba physician and politician from the 19th century
- James Cowan (author) (born 1942), Australian author
- James Cowan (rugby league) (born 1975), rugby league footballer for Scotland, and Oldham Roughyeds
- Jim Cowan (born 1942), Canadian Senator from Nova Scotia
- Jimmy Cowan (footballer) (1926–1968), Scottish international footballer of the 1940s and 1950s
- Jimmy Cowan (born 1982), New Zealand rugby union footballer
- James Cowan (Australian public servant), latter 19th century, husband of Edith Cowan
- James Cowan (British Army officer), brigadier in the British Army, see Helmand province campaign
Famous quotes containing the word james:
“Smitten as we are with the vision of social righteousness, a God indifferent to everything but adulation, and full of partiality for his individual favorites, lacks an essential element of largeness.”
—William James (1842–1910)