John Pope Cook (June 12, 1825 – October 13, 1910) was an Illinois politician and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

He served in the Western Theater and played a prominent role in securing the Union victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson, helping to force the surrender of the defenders.

His father was Daniel Pope Cook, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives at the time.

[2] During the early days of the Civil War, Cook's militia company enlisted in Federal service in April 1861.

[3] Cook's troops nevertheless managed to capture a key Confederate artillery battery, which paved the way for the subsequent collapse of the defensive line in his sector.

In November 1864, he was assigned command of the military District of Illinois, replacing Eleazar Paine, who had resigned the position.

[6] Following the war, Cook returned home and was elected as Sangamon County's representative in the Illinois General Assembly, in 1869, as a Republican.