George Robert Ainslie (1776–1839) was a Scottish general of the British Army, with a short lived and controversial career in the Caribbean, a Lieutenant Governor of Cape Breton, and noted for his coin collecting pursuits.

With his regiment he saw service in Flanders, and in 1799, when he was promoted major, was engaged in the short and disgraceful Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland.

[3] The severity of these measures attracted the attention of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and he was summoned to the UK in June 1814, although did not return until November.

Ainslie's undistinguished military and colonial governorship forced him to accept a lower post in 1816, that being lieutenant-governor of Cape Breton Island.

On that day Lieutenant-Governor Sir James Kempt of Nova Scotia officially proclaimed the end of Cape Breton as a separate colony.