John William Dowling (May 13, 1807 – July 4, 1878)[1] was an American Baptist minister, the author of The History of Romanism: from the Earliest Corruptions of Christianity to the Present Time.

Having left his family in New York City to pay a flying visit to Catskill, he returned to find his wife and one of his children dead from this dreadful disease — already in their coffins, prepared for burial.

While laboring here, he met and married Maria S. Perkins, daughter of a prominent gentleman of that town, and who bore him a son.

He entered the list in public discussion with the renowned Archbishop Hughes, at the same time penning the History of Romanism, which went through multiple editions.

On leaving New York, he moved to Philadelphia, succeeding the celebrated Dr. Stoughton[4] as pastor of the Sansom Street Baptist Church.