John Carpenter Bucklin (1773 – March 5, 1844) was the first mayor of the city of Louisville.

John Bucklin served in the Rhode Island militia, owned several ships, and married Sarah Smith in 1803.

The family moved to Louisville in 1819 or 1820, and in 1823 Bucklin became secretary of the second life insurance company in the state.

During his tenure, he successfully argued for the establishment of the first public school in the city (and state).

[1] He also dealt with a devastating flood of the city in February 1832, and pushed for the draining of many of Louisville's early ponds.