James Wilson (August 16, 1835 – August 26, 1920) was a Scots born United States politician, serving as United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1897 – 1913. He was born in Ayrshire on August 16, 1835. One of 14 children, he grew up in a farming community, not far from the birthplace of Robert Burns.

His family emigrated to America in 1852, settling in Connecticut before going on to Iowa in 1855. Wilson was elected to the Iowa State House in 1867, and served as speaker from 1870 to 1871 before becoming professor of agriculture at what is now Iowa State University.

In 1873, he was elected to Congress as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. It was during this time that he became known as Tama Jim to distinguish him from the Iowa member of senate, James Wilson.

He rose to national prominence when President William McKinley made him Secretary for Agriculture. Presidents Roosevelt and Taft retained him as secretary, and it was only when in 1912, a Democrat was elected president (Woodrow Wilson) that he ceased to be in that office, at the age of 78. Wilson served as Secretary of Agriculture from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1913 — the longest duration served by any American cabinet official.

His tenure as secretary of agriculture is known as a period of modernization of agricultural methods. He also organized greater food inspection methods, as well as great improvement of many roads across the country.

Wilson died on August 26, 1920.

See also

• Wilson Hall is a dormitory named after Wilson at Iowa State University