David Franklin Houston (February 17, 1866 – September 2, 1940) was an American academic, businessman and conservative Democrat.

He was the son of William Henry Houston, a horse dealer and grocer, and his wife, the former Pamela Ann Stevens.

[5] Under President William McKinley he was on the board of visitors of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

As ex officio Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, he issued severe warnings and, increased rediscount rates in order to prevent the inflation that the European allies were experiencing.

But when prices fell more dramatically than expected in 1920, farm spokesmen unfairly accused Houston of deliberately wrecking agrarian prosperity.

During his time in government Houston advocated other progressive measures such as the provision of a proper system of personal credit unions, aiding land settlement, the encouragement of farm ownership,[8] and improvements in rural health and sanitation.

In regards to the latter, Houston stated that “To what extent the further projection of effort is a matter for state or local action remains to be determined, but it seems clear that there should be no cessation of activity until there has been completed, in every community of the Union, an effective sanitary survey and, through the provision of adequate machinery, steps taken to control and eliminate the sources of disease and to provide the necessary modern medical and dental facilities easily accessible to the mass of the people.”[9] Houston also argued that "The farmer, as well as the industrial worker, is entitled to a living wage and to a reasonable profit on his investment.

Houston also served as a director of AT&T, the Guaranty Trust Company and the United States Steel Corporation.

[2] Houston died of a heart attack on September 2, 1940, at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.