Catharinus Putnam Buckingham (March 14, 1808 – August 30, 1888) was an American soldier, college professor, author, and industrialist.

He was Assistant Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at West Point from October 1830 to August 28, 1831.

Buckingham is best known for having carried the orders relieving MG George B. McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac on November 7, 1862.

[3] He became president of the Chicago Steel Works in 1873 and was a professor of experimental philosophy at West Point until he retired in 1881.

Buckingham died in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 80, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Zanesville.