Alfred Carlton Gilbert (February 15, 1884 – January 24, 1961) was an American inventor, athlete, magician, toy maker and business. Gilbert is best known as the inventor of the Erector Set.

Gilbert was educated at the Tualatin Academy and attended Pacific University in nearby Forest Grove, Oregon, where he was a brother of the Gamma Sigma Fraternity. He left Pacific after 1902 and transferred to Yale University, financing his education by working as a magician, and earning a degree in sports medicine.

An accomplished athlete, he broke the world record for consecutive chin-ups (39) in 1900 and distance record for the running long dive in 1902. He invented the pole vault box and set two world records in the pole vault including a record for 12’3″ (3.66 meters) at the Spring meet of the Irish American Athletic Club, held at Celtic Park, Queens, New York, in 1906. He tied for gold with fellow American Edward Cook at the 1908 London Summer Olympics for pole vaulting.

Pacific University had named a residential hall after him.

Gilbert is a member of the inaugural Oregon Sports Hall of Fame Class of 1980.