Willis John Abbot (March 16, 1863 – May 19, 1934) was an American journalist, editor, and a prolific historical and biographical author.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Waldo Abbot and Julia Holmes, he was a graduate of the University of Michigan in 1884.

He was married to Marie A. Mack in 1887 and became managing editor of the Chicago Times during 1892–93.

[1] In 1908 he served the Chicago Tribune as one of the earliest political correspondents in the American Midwest.

[2][4] He played a role leading the movement for Ethics Enforcement with Herbert Bayard Swope working on the constitution of the ANSE.