James McDowall or McDouall (1752–1808) was an 18th/19th century Scottish merchant who twice served as Lord Provost of Glasgow.
He was born on 20 January 1752 the son of William McDowall of Garthland and Castle Semple and his wife Elizabeth Graham (known as "Black Bess").
[3] In his role as Provost he was responsible for establishing the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the new "industrial prison" known as the Brideswell, the new Trades Hall, the Fleshers Haugh and the addition of John King's Park to Glasgow Green.
[4] On a highly negative note he was chairman of the group lobbying against abolition of the slave trade.
He married twice: firstly to Isabel Peter (1751-1778) died of fever two days after the birth of her fifth child.