George Wood Wingate (July 1, 1840 – March 22, 1928) was an American lawyer, soldier, civil servant and organizer of rifle practice.

During the Civil War he served in the New York National Guard which later encouraged him to promote marksmanship skills for American citizens.

In Wingate's experience, he noticed that many Union soldiers lacked basic marksmanship skills which motivated him to promote rifle proficiency among Americans.

Together with editor and Union veteran William Conant Church, Wingate chartered the National Rifle Association of America in New York on November 17, 1871.

[4] The group sought to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis" and Wingate sent emissaries to Canada, Germany and England to observe the training regiments of their militaries.

[5] Working with the New York legislature, Wingate was able to appropriate funds for the purchase of 70 acres of farmland in Long Island, which the NRA intended to construct a shooting range on.