Thomas Atkinson (1767-1836) was a warrant officer in the Royal Navy who served as master under Nelson and became one of the admiral's favoured followers.

[1] While serving on board Theseus, Atkinson also saw action at Aboukir Bay in 1798 and Acre in 1799, when he was wounded in an explosion that damaged the ship and killed the captain, Ralph Miller.

[1] Atkinson was mentioned by Sir Sidney Smith in despatches, later published in the London Gazette, for his bravery in having contributed to the success of the battle and, along with other officers, saving the ship after Captain Miller was killed.

[2] In 1801, Atkinson joined Nelson's new flagship, HMS San Josef, and began an almost uninterrupted spell of service under the admiral.

During the first Baltic campaign (1801), when Nelson transferred his flag to HMS St George, Atkinson went with him and was one of those who marked out the treacherous shoals around Copenhagen prior to the battle.