John Selden Roane was born in Wilson County, Tennessee and was educated at Cumberland College which at the time was located in Princeton, Kentucky.
Roane immigrated to Arkansas in 1837, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. From 1840 to 1842 Roane served as Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District of Arkansas.
Roane served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1842 to 1844.
At the outbreak of the Mexican War Roane was made a Lieutenant Colonel in Archibald Yell's Arkansas infantry regiment and graduated to command of the regiment when Colonel Yell was mortally wounded repelling the charge of the Mexican lancers at the Battle of Buena Vista. He was officially appointed to Colonel of the regiment on 28 February 1847.
Roane was known to be jealous of the honor of his state and once challenged Albert Pike to a duel over, what he perceived as, derogatory statements made by Pike about the Arkansas regiment in the Mexican War. The duel was fought but neither combatant was injured.
Roane served as Governor of Arkansas from 1849 to 1852 and advocated internal improvements and increased funding for education.
At the outbreak of the Civil War former Governor Roane joined the Confederate Army and on 20 March 1862 received an appointment as Brigadier General.
After most troops were moved from Arkansas across the Mississippi River Roane was placed in charge of the defense of Arkansas. At this time the state was nearly defenseless and Roane, with the newly appointed commander of the Trans-Mississippi District General Thomas C. Hindman, cobbled together a reasonable defensive force.
General Roane and his brigade took part in numerous battles in the Trans-Mississippi District including the Battle of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas.
John Selden Roane died in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
John Selden Roane is buried at Oaklawn Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.