Ayscue, George (died 1671)

English admiral of the Commonwealth period. He had been knighted by Charles I, but became a Parliamentarian and commanded the fleet in the Irish Sea 1649, being then appointed admiral. In 1651 he was sent by Oliver Cromwell to Barbados to reduce the Royalists to subjection.

In 1652 Ayscue fought an indecisive engagement off Plymouth. He was superseded in that year, but became commander of the Swedish fleet in 1658, and a navy commissioner on the Restoration of the monarchy. He fought in the second Dutch War, was imprisoned in the Netherlands 1666-67, and on his return to England took no active part in naval matters.