Sir John Benson ICE (1812 – 17 October 1874) was an Irish architect, born in Collooney, County Sligo.

Although most of his work was in Cork, he was knighted for his design for the Dublin Great Industrial Exhibition.

At the age of twenty-one he was sent by Edward Joshua Cooper of Markree Castle, to 'a technical school in Dublin', presumably the Royal Dublin Society's School of Architectural Drawing.

[1] Early work included the restoration of Markree Castle in Collooney.

In 1848 he was appointed as consulting engineer to the Cork Harbour Board and improved the navigation of the river.