John Howard Payne was a dramatist, poet, author and actor, who lived from 1791 to 1852. He was born in the United States of America, and later lived and worked in England, France, and Italy.

Among his works are his 1818 tragedy, Brutus: or, The Fall of Tarquin, and the famous song Home, Sweet Home from his 1823 play, Clari, or The Maid of Milan.