David McFadden is a Canadian poet, fiction writer, and travel writer. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario and began writing poetry while still in high school, publishing in famous literary magazines, corresponding with beat writer Jack Kerouac, and becoming a proofreader for the Hamilton Spectator newspaper.

As he grew more renowned as a poet he quit the newspaper and became a full-time literary figure in 1976.

McFadden has served on the editorial board of Coach House Press, and as a contributing editor for Swift Current and Canadian Art Magazine. He was a monthly columnist for Quill and Quire and Hamilton This Month. He also taught at David Thompson University Centre for three years and was a member of the production team of the literary journal Brick for six years.