George Washington Carpenter (July 31, 1802 – June 7, 1860) was an American scientist.

While working as an assistant in his first job, he met Thomas Nuttall and developed an interest in the natural sciences which filled his leisure time for the remainder of his life.

[6] He was particularly interested in mineralogy, and made extensive collections of minerals which he described and shared with Parker Cleaveland and other notable natural scientists of the day.

[8] He was elected an associate of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and his 1839 book Essays on Some of the Most Important Articles of the Materia Medica[9] was reprinted in a second edition, and became a textbook.

[11] His widow, Ellen (Douglas) Carpenter, donated his museum collections of natural history items to the Academy of Natural Sciences, and his collection of rare plants to the City of Philadelphia.