John Ballenden (c. 1812 – 7 December 1856) was one of the Scottish fur traders that the Hudson's Bay Company recruited to administer that trade in North America.
Ballenden started as an apprentice at York Factory, Rupert's Land in 1829 and was named accountant at Upper Fort Garry in 1836.
His mixed marriage created a number of hardships for the family and led to his taking furlough and a reposting.
On the death of his wife, he again took charge of trading out of the Red River Colony.
In an age when the fur trade was rapidly changing, John Ballenden was an able and loyal employee who, despite the family problems, had his children educated in Scotland and prepared for the changing social landscape of the time.