Kenton Harper (1801 – December 25, 1867) was an American newspaper editor, soldier, Indian agent, plantation owner, banker and politician.

He was a son of George Kenton Harper, publisher of the Franklin County Repository newspaper, and his wife Nancy McClintock.

[4] During the Mexican War, Harper became a captain in the 1st Virginia Infantry, commanding the volunteer company from Augusta County that served in the northern frontier of Mexico.

[5] Harper then was appointed acting inspector general of his brigade, and later was the military governor of Parras in the Mexican state of Coahuila.

[6] From 1851 to 1852, Harper was the United States agent to the Chickasaws at Fort Washita in the Indian Territory, then became an assistant U.S. Secretary of the Interior in Washington, D.C.

Despite the fires set by the Union Army forces as they withdrew, Harper's militia managed to salvage 4,000 of the approximately 15,000 muskets in storage there, as well as 300 of the arsenal's milling machines and metal working lathes, plus about 57,000 tools and wooden stocks (all items used in rifle production), which were sent to the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia.

Harper and the 5th Virginia fought well during the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, "where his soldierly ability attracted the notice of the army commander.

Two years later he died of pneumonia on Christmas Day at his plantation, "Glen Allen", and was buried in Staunton's Thornrose Cemetery.