John P. Washington was an American Catholic priest and United States Army lieutenant born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1908. During the Second World War, he served as a military chaplain aboard the troop transport USAT Dorchester. He is most widely recognized as one of the Four Chaplains, a group of clergy who perished while assisting others during a torpedo attack on their vessel in February 1943. His selfless actions during the sinking led to several posthumous honors for his service.