Captain Henry Willcox Osburn (30 October, 1874 – 7 January, 1957) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
The son of a Royal Navy Officer.
Osburn was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1896.
Osburn was appointed in command of the destroyer Flirt on 16 October, 1901.
Osburn was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1907 and appointed as executive officer in second class protected cruiser Arrogant on 10 September, 1907. The following month, Osburn helped rescue the crew of S.S. Leon XIII in heavy weather.
Upon leaving the ship in September, 1908, Osburn received a curiously balanced review from Captain Ralph Hudleston of the Arrogant which noted that Osburn was "a capable executive officer who has brought the ship from a dirty condition into a clean & creditable state, but who on the occasion of being compelled to issue a disagreeable order which retained most of the officers and all the men on board (i.e., from a long leave) for refitting the ship at Haulbowline failed to support me in my duty & applied to be placed on half pay." This stint at half pay would last three months.
Osburn was appointed in command of the scout cruiser Sentinel on 14 August, 1914.
In January 1916 he was stricken with influenza and was not again fit until 21 March.
Osburn was appointed in command of the monitor Prince Rupert on 16 May, 1917.
On 12 March, 1918, he took over the duties of Senior Naval Officer, Tees.
On 22 April, 1919, Osburn was appointed in command of the light cruiser Birkenhead.
He was thanked by the Air Council for his help, as Acting C.O., Humber Area, in connection with the salvage operations of the wrecked airship R 38.
Osburn was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 29 July, 1922.