James William Denny (November 20, 1838 – April 12, 1923) was a U.S. representative from Maryland.

Quick Facts Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 4th district, Preceded by ...

James William Denny
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 4th district
In office March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901
Preceded by	William W. McIntire
Succeeded by	Charles Reginald Schirm
In office March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905
Preceded by	Charles Reginald Schirm
Succeeded by	John Gill Jr.
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office 1888–1890
Personal details
Born	(1838-11-20)November 20, 1838 Frederick County, Virginia, U.S.
Died	April 12, 1923(1923-04-12) (aged 84) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place	Loudon Park Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Virginia at Charlottesville
Occupation	Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Unit	39th Virginia Battalion of Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

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James William Denny was born on November 20, 1838, in Frederick County, Virginia. Denny attended the academy of the Rev. William Johnson in Berryville, Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville.^[1]

He served as principal of the Osage Seminary of Osceola, Missouri. During the Civil War, he returned to his native state and enlisted in Company A, thirty-ninth Virginia Battalion of Cavalry in the Confederate States Army. He served until 1863 when he was detailed for service at General Robert E. Lee's headquarters, where he continued until the surrender at Appomattox Court House. After the war, he returned to Clarke County, Virginia, and graduated from Judge Parker's Law School in Winchester. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1867. He was admitted to the bar in Baltimore in 1868, and commenced practice there.^[1][2]

Denny was elected to the first branch of the Baltimore City Council in 1881, was reelected in 1882, and later became its president. He also served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1888 to 1890, as colonel on the staff of Gov. Elihu Emory Jackson and as member of the Baltimore School Board for eight years.^[1]

Denny was elected as a Democrat to the fifty-sixth congress (March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901), but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1900 to the fifty-seventh congress. He later was elected to the fifty-eighth congress (March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905).^[3] He engaged in the practice of law until his death.^[1]

Denny died on April 12, 1923, in Baltimore. He is interred in Loudon Park Cemetery.^[1]