John Penrose (15 December 1778 – 9 August 1859) was a Church of England clergyman and theological writer.
Penrose was educated at Blundell's School in Tiverton and at Corpus Christi College in Oxford.
He held a number of ecclesiastical positions throughout his lifetime, including: In 1814 Penrose married Elizabeth Cartwright, a teacher and author of children's books under the name Mrs Markham.
The couple were the parents of three sons of whom Francis Penrose was an architect and Charles Penrose a clergyman who succeed to his father's livings.
His most significant published works include: The collection of the Pitts Theology Library includes a three-page letter from John Penrose to an unnamed bishop, dated 24 November 1844 commenting on the character of Thomas Arnold.