John Preston, 1st Baron Tara (4 November 1764 – 18 July 1821), was an Irish politician.

Preston was the son of John Preston, a descendant of a younger brother of Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara

Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara

Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara was an Irish soldier of the 17th century. He was a descendant of Sir Robert de Preston, who in 1363 purchased the lands of Gormanston, County Meath, and who was keeper of the Great Seal in Ireland some years later....

, second son of Christopher Preston, 4th Viscount Gormanston. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons

Irish House of Commons

The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...

 as one of two representatives for Navan

Navan (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Navan was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...

 in 1783 (aged only 18), a seat he held until the Irish Parliament was abolished in 1800. He was raised to the Peerage of Ireland

Peerage of Ireland

The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...

 the same year as Baron Tara, of Bellinter in the County of Meath, a reward for his support for the Union.

Lord Tara was childless and the title became extinct on his death in July 1821, aged 56.