| Birthname: | John Benjamin Watkins |
| Birth Date: | June 14, 1855 |
| Birth Place: | Powhatan County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| State Senate: | Virginia |
| District: | 35th |
| Term Start: | January 11, 1928 |
| Term End: | November 30, 1931 |
| Preceded: | Julien Gunn |
| Succeeded: | W. Conway Saunders |
| State Senate2: | Virginia |
| District2: | 16th |
| Term Start2: | January 8, 1908 |
| Term End2: | January 12, 1916 |
| Predecessor2: | Joseph P. Sadler |
| Successor2: | Thomas S. Hening |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Alma Mater: | Richmond College |
| Spouse: | Lelia Neville Michaux |
John Benjamin Watkins (June 14, 1855 – November 30, 1931) was a Democratic politician who served as a member of the Virginia Senate twice, first representing the state's 16th district, and a second time representing the 35th district, comprising Henrico, Chesterfield, New Kent, Charles City, and James City Counties and the City of Williamsburg (which he held at the time of his death).[1] [2] A businessman, Senator Watkins started a nursery with his brother in Midlothian, Virginia.John B. Watkins is the great-grandfather of Virginia State Senator John Watkins, who represents some of the same localities in the current Virginia Senate as well as continuing to operate the family nursery business.