David Trotter Patterson (February 28, 1818 – November 3, 1891) was a United States Senator from Tennessee at the beginning of the Reconstruction period.

David Trotter Patterson was born at Cedar Creek, near Greeneville, Tennessee, on February 28, 1818.

In addition, he acquired substantial amounts of land in East Tennessee and grew commodity crops.

His father-in-law Andrew Johnson had succeeded as President of the United States following Lincoln's assassination the year before.

Johnson was impeached by the United States House of Representatives in February 1868, which caused Patterson personal conflict.