John D. White (February 14, 1802 – September 22, 1845) was an American lawyer and politician who was the 15th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1841 to 1843.

Using his powerful and convincing speaking skills, he progressed to become one of the local leaders of the Whig Party and won election to the Kentucky House of Representatives.

With the help of Henry Clay, he was chosen as speaker of the house, one of the highest political positions in the United States.

He served another term as a member of the House before he was appointed judge of the 19th judicial district in Kentucky.

During the last few months of his life, he suffered from ill mental health, which eventually led to his death by suicide in September 1845.

His father was the owner of Goose Creek Salt Works, which made the White family particularly wealthy and influential in Kentucky.

[1][6] He soon rose to become one of the local leaders of the Whig Party and was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1832.

He continued to serve during the Martin Van Buren administration and opposed the sub-treasury act, as well as the plan to annex Texas.

Many house Whigs saw Clay's scheme as alienating, which led to the conference being disbanded "in high dudgeon".

[6][5] In his diary, former president John Quincy Adams wrote that "White is man of fine talents and an able debater, but his manner is so vehement and his articulation so rapid that it becomes altogether indistinct.

"[1] On April 23, 1844, the House held a debate discussing the accusations of corruption that had been made against Henry Clay, the Whig Party's nominee for president that year.

George O. Rathbun, a Democratic congressman from New York and opponent of Clay, began an argument with White.

[10][11][12] His embarrassment,[10][11][12] combined with a bout of ill health and depression, led to White shooting himself in the head with a pistol.