John Nelson Cole (November 4, 1863 – October 18, 1922) was an American politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1906 to 1908.

[1][2] He attended public school for a short time, but left at an early age to work at the Marland Woolen Mill.

[1] As a newspaperman, Cole gained a reputation as an aggressive political fighter who was not afraid to oppose his own party's machine.

He also served on the Committee on the Relations between Employer and Employee, which issued a favorable report upon the Workman's Compensation Act, which was passed by the Legislature in 1908.

[4] Cole and Walker held a conference at the State House on November 28, during which pledged voters were canvassed.

Later that day Cole was given a round of applause when he appeared in the House Chamber and received three cheers when he arrived at the Speaker's desk.

[6][7] In 1908, Cole ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts as an anti-machine candidate.

His funeral was attended by a number of prominent officials, including Cox, Lieutenant Governor Alvan T. Fuller, Congressman John Jacob Rogers, Assistant District Attorney Jay R. Benton, Everett Chamberlin Benton, and former Mayor of Boston Malcolm Nichols.