James Irvin
An 1847 illustration of Irvin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 17th district
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845
Preceded by	Almon Heath Read
Succeeded by	John Blanchard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 14th district
In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	George McCulloch
Succeeded by	Alexander Ramsey
Personal details
Born	(1800-02-18)February 18, 1800 Centre County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 28, 1862(1862-11-28) (aged 62) Centre County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Whig

James Irvin (February 18, 1800 – November 28, 1862) was an American politician. Irvin was a prominent agriculturalist and ironmaster in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Irvin represented Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district in the 27th and 28th Congresses. Irvin unsuccessfully ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 1847, losing to incumbent governor Francis Rawn Shunk.

Biography

In 1855, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania chartered the Farmer's High School. The school's trustees decided to build the school on 200 acres (0.81 km²) of Centre County land donated by Irvin. That Farmer's High School is now Pennsylvania State University. Irvin Hall, one of Penn State's oldest residential halls, is named in his honor.

Irvin died in Hecla, Centre County, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1862.^[1] He is buried in Union Cemetery in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

The Oak Hall Historic District, associated with his dwelling in College Township, Pennsylvania, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Also on the Register is the Monroe Furnace, which he established in 1847.^[2]