John Lewis Peyton (1824-1896) was an American diplomat, author, and lawyer. Born in Virginia, he was educated at the University of Virginia and later practiced law in St. Louis, Missouri. During the American Civil War, he served as a confidential agent for the Confederate States in Europe, seeking support and recognition. He wrote several books about his experiences in Europe and observations on American politics, including "The American Crisis: or, Pages from the Note-Book of a State Agent During the Civil War" and "Over the Alleghanies and Across the Prairies." He was a proponent of secession, and his writings reflect a Confederate perspective. After the war, he returned to the United States and continued his career as an author.