John Neilson may refer to: John Neilson (colonel) (1745–1833), New Jersey officer and member of the New Jersey legislature John Neilson (architect) (c. 1770–1827), Irish-born American master carpenter, joiner and architect John Neilson (Lower Canada politician) (1776–1848), a Canadian newspaper editor and politician. John Alexander Neilson (1858–1915), Scottish rugby union player Shaw Neilson (1872–1942), Australian poet John Neilson (footballer, born 1874) (fl. 1900s), Scottish footballer John Neilson (footballer, born 1921) (1921–1988), Scottish footballer