Joseph Benson (26 January 1749 – 16 February 1821) was an early English Methodist minister, one of the leaders of the movement during the time of Methodism's founder John Wesley.

The son of John Benson and Isabella Robinson, his wife, he was born on 26 January 1749, in the parish of Kirkoswald, Cumberland.

His father wished him to become a clergyman, sent him to the village school, and then was under a Mr. Dean, a Presbyterian minister living in the parish.

In December 1765 he set off on foot to hear Wesley preach in Newcastle-on-Tyne, arrived too late, but followed him to London.

With an introduction to Wesley, he was taken on Bristol in March 1766, and appointed classical master at Kingswood School.

At Kingswood he had met John William Fletcher, who mentioned him to Selina, Countess of Huntingdon.

[1] With a presentation to Rowley, a parish near West Bromwich, Benson applied for ordination, but James Johnson, the Bishop of Worcester refused to ordain him.