Henry Ellis (August 29, 1721 – January 21, 1806) was an Irish explorer, author and slave trader who served as the governor of the colonies of Georgia and Nova Scotia.

After extinguishing with difficulty a fire in his ship, he sailed to Greenland, where he exchanged commodities with the Inuit peoples on July 8.

Lord Halifax, President of the Board of Trade, named Ellis lieutenant governor of Georgia on August 15, 1756.

[5] The subtropical climate took its toll on his health and he had to be removed from governor then left Georgia on November 2, 1760, stopping in New York to request military assistance to the southern colonies.

After his return to England, his knowledge of American affairs were called into requisition for developing the plan for taxing the colonies.