James Owen (American politician)

James Owen (December 7, 1784, Bladen County – September 4, 1865, Wilmington) was an American politician from North Carolina, a planter, major-general, businessman, and slave owner, including of Omar ibn Said. He was educated in private schools in Pittsburg. Subsequently, he was for many years president of the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad and a major-general of the militia. His brother John Owen was governor of North Carolina. Owen was a member of the North Carolina state legislature in 1808-1811 and a Democratic U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 5th congressional district from 1817 to 1819. He died in 1865 and was interred at Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington.

Omar ibn Said describing his two slave masters