Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Skinner (1759 – 6 February 1818) was a British military engineer born in England at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Skinner came to Newfoundland in 1790 as chief engineer and spent 13 years working on fortifications and other military matters.
War with France, starting in 1793, depleted the St John's garrison as they occupied the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
He recruited four companies, called the Royal Newfoundland Volunteers, to bolster the defence of St John's.
He must be recognized as having strengthened defences in Newfoundland under difficult circumstance, serving a number of governors who were often at variance with the military authorities.