John Comly Birdsell (March 31, 1815 – July 13, 1894) was an American manufacturer and businessman from New York.

[1][2] He built a small factory for his machine at Quaker Hill in West Henrietta, but the business was not successful.

[4] In April 1874, Judge Noah Haynes Swayne of the Northern Ohio District Court upheld Birdsell's patent.

Birdsell won a US$100,000 verdict against patent infringers, including Angus McDonald & Co. and the Ashland Manufacturing Company.

[2] He was one of the organizers and served as vice president of the St. Joseph County Savings Bank.

[6] In 1880, Birdsell and his wife traveled abroad to Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land.

[2] Birdsell died from a stroke on July 13, 1894, at the home of Mrs. Egbert in New Carlisle, Indiana.