James Cowan (South Australian politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Cowan
MP
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| Born | 21 April 1848 |
| Died | 21 July 1890 (aged 42) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | North Adelaide Grammar School |
| Occupation | Farmer, flour miller, investor |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Ann Warren |
| Children | Henry Albert Cowan (1875–1964), William James Trafford Cowan (1877–1956), Horace Stanhope Cowan (1879–1945), Frank Gladstone Cowan (1881–1966), Leslie Thompson Cowan (1883–1968), Darcy Rivers Warren Cowan (1885–1958), George Dalrymple Cowan (1887–1963), Gladys Rosalind Lewis O.B.E. (1890–1954) |
| Relatives | Thomas Cowan (brother) John Cowan (nephew) John Lancelot Cowan (great nephew) James Cowan (great grandson) Essington Lewis (son-in-law) |
| Member for Yatala | |
| In office 23 Apr 1890 – 21 Jul 1890 Serving with William Gilbert
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| Preceded by | Josiah Bagster |
| Succeeded by | Richard Butler |
| Constituency | Yatala |
| Member of the South Australian House of Assembly | |
James Cowan (born April 21, 1848 – died July 21, 1890) was an important businessman and politician in South Australia. He was a successful flour miller and an investor in big companies. Sadly, he died in an accident after serving only two months as a member of the South Australian House of Assembly. Cowan was one of the first people to invest in BHP, a very large mining company. His home, called Erindale, later became a new suburb named after it.
Early Life and Family
James Cowan was born on April 21, 1848, in County Tyrone, Ireland (which is now part of Northern Ireland). He was the third son of John Cowan, who worked as a ploughman and shepherd, and his wife Margaret.
In 1852, when James was four years old, his family moved to South Australia. They arrived in Adelaide on August 3, 1852. The family first settled in North Adelaide. James went to the North Adelaide Grammar School. When he turned 14, he left school to help his father with their businesses in Two Wells, a town north of Adelaide.
Business Success
James Cowan started his career in the mid-1860s as a farmer and grazier. He also worked with machines. Soon after, he began working as a flour miller. He bought the flour mill in Two Wells. He then expanded his business by adding mills in other towns like Gladstone, Quorn, Mallala, and Allendale North. He also owned wharfs in Port Pirie and Port Augusta.
Cowan later combined all his milling businesses with others to create the South Australian Milling Company. He owned a large part of this new company. In the early 1880s, South Australia faced an economic downturn. This made things difficult for Cowan, and he had to give up some of his property to pay debts.
Around 1885, his luck changed. He became one of the first people to invest in BHP, a major mining company. This investment was made possible through his wife's brothers-in-law, William Wilson and S. Wilson. This helped him start investing again, focusing on farming and mining. When he died, he owned parts of many different businesses. These included a coaching company, mining companies, a coal company, an electric supply company, and the Ballarat Tramway Company. He also owned several farms and other properties.
Personal Life
James Cowan married Sarah Ann Warren on November 27, 1873. Sarah was the oldest daughter of Henry Warren and Annie Topham. They were married in Two Wells. James and Sarah had eight children together.
One of their sons, Darcy Rivers Warren Cowan, became a well-known medical doctor. Their daughter, Gladys Rosalind Lewis, received an OBE award for her community work. She was also married to Essington Lewis, a very important figure in Australian industry.
After James Cowan's death, his wife and children continued to live at their home in the Adelaide suburb of Burnside. James had bought this property in 1889 and named it Erindale. In 1912, the family sold the property. The land was then divided into smaller blocks, and a new suburb was created. This new suburb was named Erindale, after their former home.
