Dr. James Overton was a well-regarded physician and educator in early Nashville history. He was born in Louisa County, Virginia August 12, 1785 the second son of Waller and Mary Ragland Overton. The family removed to Kentucky in 1790 where he later attended Transylvania University in Lexington Kentucky, receiving a degree in law. He practiced law for a short time, but decided to study medicine at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1809. That same year he was appointed Professor of Materia Medica in the Medical Department at Transylvania University, and served in that capacity until 1818 at which time he moved to Nashville. He continued to practice medicine, but later retired from the profession devoting his efforts to the management of his home and plantation known as Rockcastle. He died in Nashville, October 10, 1865.