August von Thomsen (born 6 August 1846 in Oldenswort, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, married 6 May 1888 in Naples, Italy, and died 26 September 1920 in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein) 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. In the late 1890s, at a temperance meeting in Kiel, spoke out bravely : " Alcohol is the great foe of our country."