David E. Finley (February 28, 1861 – January 26, 1917) was a United States representative from South Carolina.

He was admitted to the bar in 1886 and commenced practice in York, South Carolina.

Finley was member of the South Carolina House of Representatives 1890–1891.

He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth and to the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1899, until his death.

Finley's son, David E. Finley, Jr., a prominent cultural leader in the United States in the 20th century, served as the first director of the National Gallery of Art and the founding chairman of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.