Edwin James Houston (July 9, 1847 – March 1, 1914) was an American author, electrical engineer, academic, businessman, and inventor.

[1] He received both his Bachelor of Arts and master's degree from the same Central High School.

Houston then became a professor of civil engineering at Central High School for a short period before holding its chair of Natural Philosophy and Physical Geography.

While teaching physics at Central High School in Philadelphia, he helped design an arc light generator with his former student colleague Elihu Thomson.

In 1894, Houston formed a consulting firm in electrical engineering with Arthur Kennelly.