Lieutenant General Watkin Tench (6 October 1758 – 7 May 1833) was a British military officer who is best known for publishing two books describing his experiences in the First Fleet, which established the first European settlement in Australia in 1788.

He was captured when HMS Mermaid was driven ashore on the Maryland coast at Assateague Island near the then extant Sinepuxent Inlet on the morning of 8 July 1778, by the French under Comte d'Estaing.

The retirement did not last long, as in October 1786 the Admiralty called for volunteers for a three-year tour with the newly forming New South Wales Marine Corps for service at Botany Bay.

Before sailing with the fleet, Tench arranged with the London publishing firm of Debrett's to write a book, describing his experience of the journey and the first few months of the colony.

In July 1788, his manuscript was taken back by John Shortland and published as the Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay by Debrett's in 1789.

[4] In October 1788, Robert Ross made a list of marines who wanted to stay in Australia, either as soldiers or settlers.

He joined HMS Alexander as a brevet major, serving under Admiral Richard Rodney Bligh in the Channel fleet's blockade of Brest.

After returning to service, Tench served four years on HMS Polyphemus, escorting convoy ships in the Atlantic and the Channel.

Watkin Tench resided in Chapel Street, Penzance, in the house constructed by Richard Oxnam's grandfather.