Ben Wilson Olcott (October 15, 1872 – July 21, 1952) was an American politician of the Republican Party who served as the 16th Governor of Oregon.

His journey ended notably when he drove a dog sled team to Nome, a trip of over 1,000 miles up the Yukon and Tanana rivers in the height of winter.

On March 3, 1919, Governor James Withycombe died after serving only two months of his second term in office due to heart complications.

Today's policy of leaving a protected buffer of forested land around state highways was instituted under the Olcott Administration.

[citation needed] The growing power of the Ku Klux Klan in Oregon alarmed Governor Olcott and he denounced the organization.

After his electoral defeat, Olcott left Oregon to manage the Long Beach, California, branch of the Bank of Italy.

He died in Portland on July 21, 1952, and was interred in Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum in Salem, Marion County, Oregon.