Joseph Kent (January 14, 1779 – November 24, 1837) was an American politician and planter who was a United States Senator from Maryland, serving from 1833 until his death in 1837.

Joseph Kent received a liberal schooling at Lower Marlboro Academy, and studied medicine.

Kent purchased a 300-acre (1.2 km2) slave plantation named "Rosemount" near Bladensburg, Maryland, and settled there around 1807.

"Rosemount" is part of the large estate, "Park Hall", owned by the Gantt family in 1735, about which time it was divided and sold.

Joseph presided at the first public meeting in Washington for the organization of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, in which he became a director.

Other areas of interest for Kent included prison reform, separating presidential voting into districts, and for increased funding for schools and colleges.

Joseph married Alice Lee Contee (1803–1868) on July 8, 1828, at "Bromont", near Newburg, Charles Co., Maryland.

Kent was elected as a Republican (later Whig) to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1833, until his death at his home, "Rosemount," near Bladensburg.

Due to ill health, Kent attended only four sessions of the Senate, and died in 1837 as a result of a fall from his horse.