John Marlin (October 17, 1792 – March 12, 1847) was a colonist in Mexican Texas who was the namesake of Marlin, Texas. He was also a justice of the peace. According to a descendant, John and his brother James Marlin emigrated from Ireland, while genealogists state he was born in Madison County, Alabama. He came to Texas in 1832 and settled near Sarahville de Viesca, Texas, in Robertson's Colony. John and Mary Marlin had seven children: Marlin died in Bucksnort in 1847. In 1850, when Falls County was established, the settlement was changed to Marlin and made the county seat.