James Irvin | |
|---|---|
An 1847 illustration of Irvin | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's17th district | |
| In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | |
| Preceded by | Almon Heath Read |
| Succeeded by | John Blanchard |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's14th 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 |
| Died | November 28, 1862(1862-11-28) (aged 62) |
| Political party | Whig |
James Irvin (February 18, 1800 – November 28, 1862) was an American politician. Irvin was a prominent agriculturalist and ironmaster inCentre County, Pennsylvania. Irvin representedPennsylvania's 14th congressional district in the27th and28th Congresses. Irvin unsuccessfully ran forgovernor of Pennsylvania in1847, losing to incumbent governorFrancis Rawn Shunk.
In 1855, theGeneral 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 nowPennsylvania State University. Irvin Hall, one of Penn State's oldest residential halls, is named in his honor.
Irvin died from a case of Smallpox in Hecla, Centre County, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1862.[1] He is buried inUnion Cemetery inBellefonte, Pennsylvania.
TheOak Hall Historic District, associated with his dwelling inCollege Township, Pennsylvania, was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1977. Also on the Register is theMonroe Furnace, which he established in 1849. Though it is debated if the furnace was established by him independently or if the site for the furnace was developed for a man named "Caleb Quincy Shaffer".[2][3]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph Markle | Whig nominee forGovernor of Pennsylvania 1847 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 14th congressional district 1841–1843 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 17th congressional district 1843–1845 | Succeeded by |