Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet

Admiral of the Fleet The Right Honourable Sir George Cockburn Bt
Portrait of Sir George Cockburn by John Lucas
Born	(1772-04-22)22 April 1772 London, England
Died	19 August 1853(1853-08-19) (aged 81) Leamington Spa, England
Buried	Kensal Green Cemetery, London
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain  United Kingdom / British Empire
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1786–1846
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Commands held	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 British Royal Navy officer. 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 reduction 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.