John Holmes Prentiss (April 17, 1784 – June 26, 1861) was an American newspaper publisher and politician in the U.S. state of New York.

In 1818, the name was changed to The Freeman's Journal dropping the Federalist label as Prentiss shifted his political support to the Democratic-Republican Party.

In addition to operating the newspaper, Prentiss served in the New York Militia, appointed by Governor DeWitt Clinton as inspector of the 16th Division with the rank of colonel.

He was postmaster of Cooperstown from April 24, 1833, to February 17, 1837, and was vice president of the 1837 New York State Democratic convention in Albany.

With his second wife his children included Alexander Shankland (1829–1854), John Holmes Jr. (1832–1923), Rachel Ann (1834–1874), and Charlotte Darbyshire (1837–1935).