Gideon Frank Rothwell (April 24, 1836 – January 18, 1894) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.

He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1864, commencing practice in Huntsville, Missouri.

He was appointed in 1889 a member of the board of curators of the University of Missouri, and served as its president in 1890–1894 during the catastrophic 1892 fire.

After first ordering the remaining Columns torn down, Rothwell, eventually declare them structurally sound, creating Columbia's most famous landmark.

He died in Moberly, Missouri, on January 18, 1894, and was interred in Oakland Cemetery.