Admiral Sir George Bowyer, 5th and 1st Baronet (3 May 1740 – 6 December 1800), was a Royal Navy officer and politician of the eighteenth century.

He participated in the Seven Years' War, fighting at the Battle of Minorca, Raid on Rochefort, and Siege of Louisbourg as a junior officer.

In Dolphin Bowyer served off the coast of West Africa, where in 1753 they investigated the martial intentions of the pirates of Sallee, on the Leeward Islands Station and in the Mediterranean Fleet before transferring to the ship of the line HMS Princess Louisa as a midshipman on 30 October 1755.

[Note 1][1][5] He patrolled off the southern coast of England until 30 June 1762 when Swift was attacked and captured by the French privateer Manley off Ushant.

He was given command of the frigate HMS Sheerness at the same time and served in her in the Mediterranean until 17 December 1763 when he paid her off, the Seven Years' War having ended.

Bowyer stayed unemployed until the American Revolutionary War began, when on 31 October 1776 he was given command of the ship of the line HMS Burford in which he served off the coast of Ireland.

[6][1][3] He left Burford to recommission the ship of the line HMS Albion on 4 May 1778; on 9 June he sailed her to North America before travelling to the West Indies on 13 December as part of the fleet of Vice-Admiral John Byron.

Bowyer took part in a similar action again on 19 May where the two fleets played a game of cat and mouse in an attempt to gain a strong tactical advantage.

[1][3][10] Bowyer left the West Indies and returned to England on 24 December 1781, staying unemployed until 20 March 1783 when he was given command of the ship of the line HMS Irresistible in the Medway.

[1][11] Bowyer was appointed a Colonel of Marines, an honorary position for post-captains, on 24 September 1787 and received his next command, the brand new ship of the line HMS Boyne, at the beginning of the Spanish Armament on 18 August 1790.

Having inherited Radley Hall from his uncle Sir James Stonhouse, 10th Baronet, in April 1792, Bowyer lived there until his death on 9 December 1800.

The Queenborough parliamentary seat was controlled by the Admiralty and he dedicated his political time to naval affairs while generally supporting William Pitt the Younger's faction.