Sylvester Churchill (August 2, 1783 – December 7, 1862) was an American journalist and Regular Army officer.

Educated in the schools of his home town, he became a journalist, and published, in 1808, a weekly newspaper, "The Vermont Republican."

At the beginning of the American Civil War, he had been Inspector General of the Regular Army for 20 years.

He was retired September 25, 1861, due to ill health, and succeeded by Randolph B. Marcy.

The family resemblance evident in the portrait was noted by Winston Churchill and his contemporaries.