- John Scott (1731-1783) of Amwell, Quaker poet and friend of Samuel Johnson
- John Scott, American (Missouri) politician
- John Scott, U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania
- John Scott, editor of the London Magazine, killed in a duel in 1821
- John Scott (1874? - September 23, 1951), Canadian newspaper editor and publisher
- John Russell Scott (1879-1949), British newspaper publisher, son of C. P. Scott and founder of the Scott Trust
- John Scott, Office of Strategic Services and Soviet spy during World War II
- John Scott (1956 - ), organist, Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral from 1990-2004
- John Scott, Member of the Scottish Parliament
- John Scott, Member of the Australian House of Representatives
- John Scott, first mayor of Bytown, later Ottawa
- John Scott, Welsh rugby player
- John Scott, Fashion expert on the British television programme, This Morning.
- John Scott, a Fox News Channel newsperson.
