Sir John Henry Pelly, 1st Baronet, DL (31 March 1777 – 13 August 1852) was an English businessman.

Pelly was a fourth generation sailor, and possibly served in the Royal Navy at a young age.

Pelly was responsible for organizing several exploration parties, including some for Peter Warren Dease and Thomas Simpson which assisted in the discovery of the Northwest Passage.

[12] Pelly developed a business relationship with Sir George Simpson, Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land, and an HBC employee.

[7] His eight sons were: Sir John Henry (who succeeded as baronet), Raymond, Charles, Albert, Richard-Wilson, Edmund, Octavius, and Percy-Leonard.

[citation needed] Sir Lewis Pelly, Conservative Member of Parliament and an East India Company officer, was his nephew.

[14] Upon the recommendation of Lord Melbourne, he was created Baronet Pelly, of Upton in the county of Essex in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 6 July 1840.