We derive pointwise error estimates for a generalized Oseen when it is approximated by a low order Taylor‐Hood finite element scheme in two dimensions. The analysis is based on estimates for regularized Green's functions associated with a generalized Oseen problem on weighted Sobolev spaces and weighted interpolation results. We apply the maximum norm results to obtain convergence in an optimal control problem governed by a generalized Oseen equation and present a numerical example that allows us to show the behavior of the error.