John Marie Durst (1797–1851) was an early settler who lived most of his life in Louisiana and Texas. He was a multi-linguist who learned the mercantile trade from his godfather Peter Samuel Davenport. Durst was a veteran of the Battle of New Orleans. He was a legislative representative under Coahuila y Tejas, during which he became involved in a land speculation controversy. Durst became a large land holder, due in part to an inheritance from Davenport.