Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer (1775-1880) was a British military officer colonial administrator. After reaching the position of colonel in the British army he was, in 1830, appointed commander of British military forces in North America as well as Governor General of British North America in 1830. Aylmer had no previous experience as a civil administrator and no political experience and was unable to pacify the growing demands in Lower Canada for responsible government and, in 1834, the radical Assembly of Lower Canada passed 92 resolutions of grievance including a demand that Aylmer be recalled. Lord Aylmer exacerbated tensions by favouring the English. The deterioration of the situation led to his recall in 1835. His administration may have been a contributing factor to the Patriotes Rebellion of 1837.
Returning to England, Aylmer was promoted to the rank of general but he never obtained an English peerage (his title was of Irish origin), or another administrative post.