John Sanford (June 3, 1803 – October 4, 1857) was an American businessman and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1841 to 1843.

He returned to Amsterdam and founded a carpet mill but the factory was destroyed by fire in 1854, whereupon he retired from active business.

They had three daughters and three sons: He died in Amsterdam in 1857 and was interred there in the Green Hill Cemetery.

His son Stephen served in Congress and operated the family carpet business, as did his grandson John Sanford II.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress