John Macqueen Cowan FRSE CBE (1891–1960) was a prominent Scottish botanist in the mid 20th century.
[4] From 1927 to 1929 he worked with the Indian Forest Service and conducted many studies of tree species throughout India.
In February 1929 he made a study trip around the Near East with fellow botanist Cyril Darlington.
[2] He worked at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 1930 to 1954 alongside Roland Edgar Cooper (both then under William Wright Smith).
During the Second World War he provided valuable advice to the Ministry of Supply in relation to the Home-Grown Timber Production Department.