James Benjamin Aswell Sr. (December 23, 1869 – March 16, 1931) was a prominent educator and a Democratic U.S. representative from Louisiana, who served from 1913 until his death, which occurred twelve days into his tenth term.

Aswell was born in the Vernon community in rural Jackson Parish in north Louisiana to Benjamin W. and Elizabeth A.

Aswell resigned his position in 1911 to run unsuccessfully for governor in the 1912 Democratic primary.

[2] Later that year, Aswell was elected to the U.S. House from the newly created 8th congressional district, based around Natchitoches and Alexandria.

He worked with the Louisiana naturalist Caroline Dormon to establish the Kisatchie National Forest in his district.