John Thompson Ford (April 16, 1829 – March 14, 1894) was an American theater manager and politician during the nineteenth century.

For a few years he attended public school in Baltimore and then became a clerk in his uncle's tobacco factory in Richmond, Virginia.

This farce was fairly successful, and George Kunkel, the owner and manager of the Serenaders, offered Ford a position with the organization.

In 1858, Ford was elected President of the City Council of Baltimore, and by a force of circumstance was acting mayor for two years.

John Ford complained of the effect that his incarceration would have on his business and family, and he offered to help with the investigation, but Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton made no reply to his two letters.

During his career, Ford also managed theaters in Alexandria, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Charleston, South Carolina; and Richmond.

It was at Richmond's Marshall Theatre, then under Ford's management, that in November, 1856, Edwin Booth first met Mary Devlin (playing Juliet to his Romeo), whom he later married.

[citation needed] Ford also managed a great number of travelling as well as resident companies, which included the greatest stars, and actors of his generation.

Ten of these were still living when he died: Charles, then manager of Ford's Opera House; George, a treasurer; John Jr, an advertising agent; Harry; Mattie, an actor; James, and the unmarried daughters Lizzie, May, Lucy, and Saile (named after her father Elias, Saile is Elias in reverse).

Two days after his death, a funeral was held at his house and officiated by two clergymen from the Central Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, and he was buried in Loudon Park Cemetery.