August von Thomsen (6 August 1846 – 26 September 1920) was an Admiral of the German Imperial Navy. He was the son of Adolf Theodor Thomsen (a Prussian politician) and Catharina Tönnies.In 1898 - 1903 he was senior admiral (commander) at the North Sea Naval Station (Marinestation der Nordsee) at Wilhelmshaven. His fame as "the father of German naval artillery" dates from 1885 when he was appointed chief gunner. He set up the first long range experiments on the ironclad SMS Bayern in October 1885.