John Noble Goodwin (October 18, 1824 – April 29, 1887) was a United States attorney and politician who served as the first Governor of Arizona Territory.

When John A. Gurley, Lincoln's initial appointee for Governor of Arizona Territory, died on August 19, 1863, Goodwin was selected to fill the open position.

Following this tour, Goodwin decided to place the new capital at a site near Granite Creek, roughly 20 miles south of Fort Whipple's location.

[8] Goodwin's duties encompassed dividing the territory into judicial districts and appointing a variety of officials to conduct governmental tasks.

Marshal Milton B. Duffield, the governor proclaimed an election for the selection of a territorial legislature and delegate to Congress would occur on July 18, 1864.

[11] To deal with the Apache and other tribes, Goodwin called for assistance from the U.S. Army along with creation of a volunteer force to combat the hostiles.

For peaceful tribes, the governor called for Congress to create reservations along the Colorado River and appropriate funds to build irrigation systems.

[13] Goodwin was elected to be Arizona Territory's delegate to the 39th United States Congress on September 6, 1865, defeating incumbent Charles D. Poston in the process.

[15] During the period lasting until McCormick's appointment as governor, Goodwin collected two salaries and did not respond to requests for return of the overpayment for the U.S. Treasury Department.

[16] During his time as a delegate, Goodwin submitted several bills calling for troops to fight hostile Indians, creation of additional postal routes.