Sir George Cockburn | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Sir George Cockburn by John Lucas | |
| Born | 22 April 1772 London, England |
| Died | 19 August 1853 (aged 81) Leamington Spa, England |
| Buried | Kensal Green Cemetery, London |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Great Britain United Kingdom / British Empire |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1786–1846 |
| Rank | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Commands | HMS Speedy HMS Inconstant HMS Minerve HMS Meleager HMS Phaeton HMS Captain HMS Pompée HMS Implacable Cape of Good Hope Station North American Station |
| Battles / wars | French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars War of 1812 |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet, GCB, PC, FRS (22 April 1772 – 19 August 1853) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. As a captain he was present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797 during the French Revolutionary Wars and commanded the naval support at the invasion of Martinique in February 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars.
He also directed the capture and Burning of Washington on 24 August 1814 as an advisor to Major General Robert Ross during the War of 1812. He went on to be First Naval Lord and in that capacity sought to improve the standards of gunnery in the fleet, forming a gunnery school at Portsmouth; later he ensured that the Navy had the latest steam and screw technology and put emphasis on the ability to manage seamen without the need to resort to physical punishment.