Thomas Skinner (British Army officer, born 1759)

Thomas Skinner (1759 – 1818) was a British Army officer who served extensively in North America, particularly during the American Revolutionary War and its aftermath.

Skinner was commissioned into the British Army and saw active service in North America. He was a Loyalist, remaining loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. He raised and commanded a Loyalist unit, known as Skinner's Greens, also sometimes called the New Jersey Volunteers. This unit was involved in numerous engagements and skirmishes throughout the war, primarily in the New Jersey area.

Following the defeat of the British in 1783, Skinner and his regiment were disbanded. As with many Loyalists, he faced the loss of property and the challenges of resettlement. Skinner and a substantial number of his former soldiers relocated to Nova Scotia, where the British government provided land grants and support to refugees fleeing the newly formed United States. He became a prominent figure in the Loyalist community in Nova Scotia. He later served as a magistrate and held other civil positions in the colony.

Skinner died in 1818, having played a significant role in the military and social landscape of North America during a period of profound political change. His legacy remains tied to the Loyalist experience during and after the American Revolution.