John Dawson, founding member of New Riders of the Purple Sage

John Dawson, 19th century English racehorse trainer (see the UK races in Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing)

John Dawson Winter III (Johnny Winter, 1944-), blues guitarist and singer

John Barkley Dawson, namesake of Dawson, New Mexico

John Dawson (1744-1798), first Earl of Portarlington

John Littleton Dawson, (1813-1870), US politician

John Dawson (surgeon), (1734-1820) Surgeon and mathematician

John Dawson, co-founder of A&R Cambridge Ltd (ARCAM), a hi-fi audio manufacturer; Cambridge University graduate

John Bennett Dawson, (1798-1845), US politician

John Dawson (1762-1814), US politician

John Dawson Read, British singer and songwriter

John A Dawson, Specialist in Retail Innovation at the University of Edinburgh

John A. Dawson (Canadian politician), a member in the 3rd Parliament of Canada from Pictou (electoral district)

John Leonard Dawson, former Serjeant Surgeon of the Royal Household

John W. Dawson, (1820-1877), US politician, former governor of Utah Territory

John William Dawson, (1820-1899), Canadian geologist (see also the medal named for him)