John Chester Buttre (June 10, 1821 – December 2, 1893), was an American steel-plate engraver and lithographer, responsible for some 3,000 engraved portraits of American political, naval and military personalities.

He published The American Portrait Gallery in three volumes (1880–81) with text by his daughter, Lillian C. Buttre.

[1] He received his first drawing tuition from Hulaniski, a Polish exile living in Auburn.

Arriving in New York in 1841, he devoted himself to steel-plate engraving, at which he soon became successful, his work appearing in many magazines and newspapers.

His Civil War work included sentimental images such as The Empty Sleeve, Only a Little Brook and Prayer in Camp, all of which sold well.