James Owen (American politician)

James Owen (December 6, 1784 – September 4, 1865) was an American politician from North Carolina, a planter, adjutant general, businessman, and slave owner, including of Omar ibn Said. He was educated at William Bingham's Academy in Pittsboro.^[2] Subsequently, he was for many years president of the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad and an adjutant general in the North Carolina militia during the War of 1812.^[3] His brother John Owen was governor of North Carolina.

Omar ibn Said describing his two enslavers

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 Serving with Thomas Brown
Preceded by	David Gillespie James Bunbury White
Succeeded by	David Gillespie John Owen
Personal details
Born	December 6, 1784[1] 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, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Eliza Murley Mumford
Relatives	John Owen (brother)
Education	Pittsboro Academy
Profession	Planter politician militia officer
Military service
Branch	North Carolina militia
Rank	Adjutant general
Wars	War of 1812

Owen was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons from 1808 to 1811 and a Democratic-Republican party U.S. congressman 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.^[3]

James Owen succeeded Edward B. Dudley as president of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad (later renamed the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad in 1855). Under his leadership, he played a key role in developing a rail rode via Weldon that connected Wilmington with major northern markets. Upon its completion in 1840, the 161.5 mile line became the longest railroad in the world at that time, significantly impacting regional transportation and commerce in antebellum North Carolina. Moreover, Owen’s relationship with Omar ibn Said, an educated Muslim scholar whom Owen enslaved, demonstrated an unexpected cultural complexity. Capable of writing in Arabic, Said lived in Owen’s household and received both an English translation of the Quran and an Arabic Bible; reflecting his owner's unusual accommodation of Said’s faith and learning.^[4]