John Russell Young (April 2, 1882 – July 2, 1966) was a Washington, D.C., politician and journalist who served as the 18th president of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia, from 1941 to 1952.

[clarification needed] He was named for his uncle John Russell Young who was a journalist, diplomat and the 7th Librarian of Congress.

At the time of his appointment to fill an unexpired term on the Board of Commissioners in 1940, Young was the best known and longest-serving member of the White House Press Corps.

From April 1940 to July 1941 he served as board member, but when Melvin Hazen died in his office, Young took over as president, first in an acting capacity and then two weeks later officially.

The report, issued after he retired, accused him of "dereliction" in supervising the police department but did not implicate him in the gambling or protection rackets it uncovered.