Josef Ritter von Schmitt (born 4 March 1838 – 16 April 1907) was a Bavarian politician and prominent jurist, who served as the 14th President of Upper Franconia from the turn of the century until his death in 1907.

Josef's brother, Gottfried Ritter von Schmitt [de], served as President of the Bavarian Supreme Court in Munich.

Acting as a highly regarded defence attorney, prosecutor and judge in his home town of Bamberg, von Schmitt was enabled to later expand his legal practice and branch into politics.

From 1898 until his death he served as chairman of the board of the Schweinfurt ball producer " Fries & Höpflinger A.G [de]"[10] which later merged to become the conglomerate SKF, and Schmitt contributed decisively to the boom of the company.

[11][12][13] Schmitt also performed a number of honorary functions, these included being chairman of the Community Plenipotentiary Collegium and president of the district administrators in Bamberg.