James Irvin

About James Irvin

James Irvin (1800 - 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 United States Congress, and Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district in the 28th United States Congress. Irvin unsuccessfully ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 1847, losing to incumbent governor Francis Rawn Shunk.

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 The Pennsylvania State University. Irvin Hall, one of Penn State's oldest residential halls, is named in his honor.