James Sevier Conway (December 9, 1796 – March 3, 1855) was an American politician who served as the first governor of Arkansas from 1836 to 1840.

In 1818, the family moved to St. Louis, where Conway learned the art of land surveying from his uncle William Rector, surveyor-general in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas.

While living there, Conway met Mary Jane Bradley, who had migrated with her family from Wilson County, Tennessee.

He ordered the militia to patrol the western frontier and worked to have the federal arsenal built at Little Rock.

[1] Conway left office in 1840 and returned to Lafayette County where he served three nonconsecutive terms as postmaster.