Jesse Thayer (1845–1910) was an American educator and legislator.

Born in Janesville, Wisconsin, he served in the American Civil War. Afterwards, he graduated from Milton College. He was a superintendent of public schools and was a mathematics professor at Rivers Falls Normal School (now University of Wisconsin–River Falls). In 1885–1886, he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He also served as the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin 1887–1891.^[1]

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