George Cook (1772–1845) was a Scottish minister, author of religious tracts and professor of Moral Philosophy at St Andrews University.

In 1829 he was offered the Chair of Moral Philosophy at St Andrews University (a post held by his father from 1773 until 1802) where he continued until death in 1845.

[2] From an early period Cook took a prominent part in the deliberations of the general assembly, and on the death of his uncle, Principal Hill, in 1819, virtually succeeded him as leader of the "moderate" party.

[4] He was unanimously elected in 1825, and from this time was accepted as the unchallenged leader of the party, guiding both privately and publicly their policy in regard to the constitutional questions arising out of the Church Patronage (Scotland) Act 1874 (37 & 38 Vict.

In 1834 he published A few plain Observations on the Enactments of the General Assembly of 1834 relating to Patronage and Calls, and in the ten years' conflict on the subject which followed gave a persistent and strenuous opposition to the policy of the "evangelical" party led by Thomas Chalmers.

Though unable to cope with Chalmers and others in brilliant or popular oratory, he possessed great readiness of reply, while his calm judgment, clear and logical exposition and accurate knowledge of the laws and constitution of the church enabled him to hold his own, so far as technical argument, apart from appeal to sentiment and popular feelings, was concerned.