James Irvin was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

. Irvin was a prominent agriculturalist and ironmaster in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Irvin represented Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district is overwhelmingly Democratic. The district includes the entire city of Pittsburgh, which is solidly Democratic because of its strong ethnic labor, liberal professional, and black voting blocks. A variety of working class and majority black suburbs located...

 in the 27th United States Congress

27th United States Congress

The Twenty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843, during the one-month...

, and Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district in the 28th United States Congress

28th United States Congress

-House of Representatives:Following the 1840 United States Census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats . During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida .- Senate :*President: Vacant...

. 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

Pennsylvania General Assembly

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...

 chartered the Farmer's High School. The school's trustees decided to build the school on 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of Centre County land donated by Irvin. That Farmer's High School is now The Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University

The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...

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

Irvin died in Hecla, Centre County, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1862. He is buried in Union Cemetery

Union Cemetery (Bellefonte, Pennsylvania)

Union Cemetery located on East Howard Street in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania was established in 1795. Burials occurred as early as 1808, and the cemetery itself was chartered in 1856. It is the final resting place of Bellefonte's founding families, Pennsylvania Governors and their wives, U.S...

 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies about twelve miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...

.

The Oak Hall Historic District

Oak Hall Historic District

Oak Hall Historic District is a national historic district located at College Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. The district includes 17 contributing buildings and 3 contributing structures in Oak Hall. The district includes the mansion house once owned by General James Irvin, the Irvin...

, associated with his dwelling in College Township, Pennsylvania, was added to the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 in 1979. Also on the Register is the Monroe Furnace

Monroe Furnace

Monroe Furnace is a national historic district and historic iron furnace located at Barree Township in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It consists of 1 contributing site and 1 contributing structure. They are the remains of the furnace stack, its immediate surroundings, and the visible foundation...

, which he established in 1847.