| John Wilkinson | |
| Birth Date: | 1868 2, mf=yes[1] |
| Birth Place: | Syracuse, New York, United States[2] |
| Death Place: | Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Education: | Cornell University |
| Occupation: | Mechanical engineer, inventor, business |
| Spouse: | Edith Belden (Known as DeeDee) |
| Parents: | Joshua Forman Wilkinson (1829–1889) Louisa B. Rayner |
| Children: | Helen Wilkinson Blagbrough (1897–1947), Anne Belden Wilkinson Sherry (1899–1997), John Belden Wilkinson (1905–1951) |
John Wilkinson (February 11, 1868 – June 25, 1951) was born in Syracuse, New York. He invented the air-cooled motor which was used in the Franklin (automobile) produced by H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company where he was chief engineer and designer from 1902 to 1924.
He was a native of Syracuse and a member of an established, respected, wealthy family. His grandfather, John Wilkinson (1798–1862), was one of the original pioneers of Upstate, New York.[3] As a young man, Wilkinson, Sr. was a city planner and named the newly incorporated village, Syracuse.[4]