James Butler Bowlin (16 January 1804-19 July 1874) was a member of the US House of Representatives (D-MO AL) from 4 March 1843 to 3 March 1847 (succeeding John Miller) and from MO-1 from 4 March 1847 to 3 March 1851 (preceding John Fletcher Darby). Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he moved to Lewisburg, West Virginia in 1825 and practiced law in St. Louis, Missouri. He served in the state house in 1836-1837, in Congress, as Minister Resident to New Granada from 1855 to 1857, and as Commissioner to Paraguay from 1858 to 1859.