James Luther Slayden (June 1, 1853 – February 24, 1924) was an American politician, cotton merchant, and rancher.

[1][2] He was elected from San Antonio to United States House of Representatives, serving eleven consecutive terms.

[2][1] Slayden moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1879 and became a rancher cotton merchant.

[2][4] In 1896, Slayden was elected to the United States Congress representing Texas' 12th district as a Democrat.

[1] After losing his bid for appointment as President Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of War, Slayden declined renomination to run for Congress in 1918.

[5] When he left Congress in 1919, Slayden kept busy with mines in Mexico, a ranch in Texas, and an orchard in Virginia.