Johns Hopkins (May 19, 1795, Anne Arundel County, Maryland – December 24, 1873, Baltimore) was a wealthy entrepreneur, philanthropist, and abolitionist of 19th century Baltimore, now most noted for his philanthropic creation of the institutions that bear his name, namely the Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

His father, Samuel Hopkins, died in 1814. Johns Hopkins' and his older brother's responsibilities included care and assistance to his mother who died in 1846. About a year before his mother's death, Johns Hopkins' older brother Joseph Hopkins also died. Johns Hopkins, who lived longer than his other brothers as well, and who was the most successful of his siblings, continued to support and provide assistance to Joseph's family, and to his other siblings and their families even after his death in his last will and testament. Similar to his parents Johns Hopkins continued to his care for the elderly and less able-bodied, including slaves and servants, his siblings and their families, his mother. According to most sources, from this 1807 emancipation, and whether he was working on the farm or later in his business careers, Johns Hopkins was known as a hard working and frugal man, The story of the family's struggles and their life before and after the 1807 emancipation was told by a relative, Mrs. Helen Hopkins Thom, in the first biography of Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins: A Silhouette, which was republished in March 2009.

After he left the plantation, Hopkins worked for a time in his uncle's wholesale grocery business. His first experiences and successes in business came while his uncle was away during the War of 1812 according to most sources. While staying at his uncle's home, he fell in love with his cousin, Elizabeth Hopkins. A Quaker prejudice against the marriage of first cousins existed and Elizabeth's parents would not allow them to marry. They pledged never to marry anyone else and remained single for the rest of their lives. Still, just as Johns Hopkins provided for his extended family, he provided a home for her in his will. She lived there until her death in 1889, almost fifteen years after his death in 1873.