James Cowan (South Australian politician)

James Cowan MP
Born	(1848-04-21)21 April 1848[1] County Tyrone, Ireland (now Northern Ireland)
Died	21 July 1890(1890-07-21) (aged 42) Dry Creek, South Australia
Nationality	British
Alma mater	North Adelaide Grammar School
Occupation(s)	Farmer, flour miller, investor
Spouse	Sarah Ann Warren
Children	Henry Albert Cowan (1875–1964), William James Trafford Cowan (1877–1956), Horace Stanhope Cowan (1879–1945), Frank Gladstone Cowan (1881–1966), Leslie Thompson Cowan (1883–1968), Darcy Rivers Warren Cowan (1885–1958), George Dalrymple Cowan (1887–1963), Gladys Rosalind Lewis O.B.E. (1890–1954)
Relatives	Thomas Cowan (brother) John Cowan (nephew) John Lancelot Cowan (great nephew) James Cowan (great grandson)[2] Essington Lewis (son-in-law)
Member for Yatala
In office 23 Apr 1890 – 21 Jul 1890 Serving with William Gilbert
Preceded by	Josiah Bagster
Succeeded by	Richard Butler
Constituency	Yatala
Member of the South Australian House of Assembly

James Cowan (21 April 1848 – 21 July 1890), flour miller and investor, had been a member of the South Australian House of Assembly for the Yatala for only 2 months when he was killed in an accident at a railway crossing. Cowan was an early investor in BHP. The property associated with Erindale, Cowan's residence at Burnside, was sub-divided after his death into a new suburb which was also named Erindale.