John Hare Powel (April 22, 1786 – June 14, 1856) was an American agriculturist, politician, art collector and philanthropist from Pennsylvania.

[1] He legally changed his name when he attained his majority, and inherited the immense fortune of his late uncle, Samuel Powel.

As part of his job in mercantile affairs, he traveled to Calcutta and returned at age 22 with twenty-two thousand dollars as his share of the profit.

[4] He returned to the United States in 1811, joined the Pennsylvania militia and served as Brigade-Major under Thomas Cadwalader at Camp Dupont.

[9] Powel died in Newport, Rhode Island and is interred at the Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.