John Meredith Bass (January 19, 1804– March 14, 1878) was an American banker, planter and Whig politician based in Nashville, Tennessee.

John Meredith Bass was born on January 19, 1804, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bass became politically active with the Whig Party, being elected to the board of aldermen of Nashville (1831–1832).

[4] In 1869, Bass served as the "receiver" of Nashville, for which he gave a $1 million bond.

[7][3][10] Bass became a personal friend of wealthy slave trader John Armfield, who established a plantation in Nashville after moving from his business based in Alexandria, Virginia.