Johan Cappelen (25 February 1889 – 18 October 1947) was a Norwegian lawyer and politician for the Conservative Party.

He was born in Skogn Municipality[2] as a son of physician Johan Christian Severin Cappelen (1855–1936) and Katharina M. Steen (1859–1915).

[2] As a politician Cappelen was elected to Trondhjem city council, serving as mayor from 1931 to 1934.

[6] After falling ill he was transferred to Innherred Hospital, where he managed to continue his resistance work with contacts to Trondheim.

[6] When the occupation ended in 1945, Cappelen was appointed Minister of Justice and the Police in the non-partisan coalition government Gerhardsen's First Cabinet.