James Wilson
4th United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office March 6, 1897 – March 5, 1913
Preceded by	Julius S. Morton
Succeeded by	David F. Houston
Born	August 16 1835(1835--) Ayrshire, Scotland
Died	August 26 1920 (aged 85) Traer, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

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

Representative James Wilson

His family emigrated to America in 1852, settling in Connecticut before moving to Iowa in 1855, establishing a farm near Traer. Wilson was elected to the Iowa General Assembly 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 the senate, James F. Wilson. Wilson served two terms in the House of Representatives. He also served as Dean of Agriculture at Iowa State University from 1890 to 1897.

He rose to national prominence when President William McKinley made him Secretary for Agriculture. Presidents T. 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 6, 1897 to March 5, 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. After leaving office, Wilson retired and died in Traer, Iowa on August 26, 1920, ten days after his eighty-fifth birthday.

Wilson Hall, a dormitory at Iowa State University, was named in his honor. His home, The Farm House (Knapp-Wilson House), now on the Iowa State University campus grounds, has been a National Historic Landmark since 1964.

Sources

• James Wilson (U.S. politician) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• James Wilson at Find A Grave
• James Wilson at The Political Graveyard

United States Secretaries of Agriculture
Colman • Rusk • Morton • Wilson • Houston • Meredith • HC Wallace • Gore • Jardine • Hyde • HA Wallace • Wickard • Anderson • Brannan • Benson • Freeman • Hardin • Butz• Knebel • Bergland • Block • Lyng • Yeutter • Madigan • Espy • Glickman • Veneman • Johanns

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