Alanson Bigelow Houghton (October 10, 1863 – September 15, 1941) was an American businessman, politician, and diplomat who served as a Congressman and Ambassador.

Under Houghton's leadership, the company tripled in size to become one of the largest producers of glass products in the United States.

The company manufactured 40% of incandescent light bulbs and 75% of the railway signal glass used in the U.S. Houghton's interest in and promotion of education, particularly in western New York state, led to his being appointed a trustee of Hobart College in 1917.

In 1920, Houghton garnered 68% of the vote to win reelection over Democrat Charles R. Durham and Socialist Francis Toomey.

On February 28, 1922, Houghton resigned his House seat to accept appointment from President Warren G. Harding as the U.S.

Houghton believed that world peace, European stability, and American prosperity depended upon a reconstruction of Europe's economy and political system.

He was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Advanced Study, in Princeton, New Jersey, serving as chairman until his death in 1941.

He also was an original standing committee member of the Foundation for the Study of Cycles and served as vice president of the American Peace Society, which publishes World Affairs, the oldest U.S. journal on international relations.

During World War II the Liberty ship SS Alanson B. Houghton was built in Panama City, Florida, and named in his honor.