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.

In 1861 he gathered troops after the bombardment of Confederate of Fort Sumter and after that became colonel of the 7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

[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.