James Cowan (November 3, 1803 – May 22, 1900)[1] was a Canadian farmer, businessman and political figure.
When Waterloo County was created, he was part of a group lobbying to have Galt named the chief town instead of Berlin (later Kitchener).
Cowan ran unsuccessfully for the seat for Gore division in the legislative council in 1858.
In 1860, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for South Waterloo; he was reelected in 1863.
He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in 1867.