List of Famous people named William

William Bliss Baker was an American artist who began painting just as the Hudson River School was winding down. Baker began his studies in 1876 at the National Academy of Design, where he studied with Bierstadt and de Haas. He later maintained studios in Clifton Park, New York; and New York City, where he painted in oils and watercolors. He completed more than 130 paintings, including several in black and white.

William Crapo Durant, also known as Billy Durant, was a leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry, who created a system in which a company held multiple marques – each seemingly independent, with different automobile lines – bound under a unified corporate holding company. Durant, along with Frederic L. Smith, co-founded General Motors, as well as Chevrolet with Louis Chevrolet. He also founded Frigidaire.

William Emmett Dever was the mayor of Chicago from 1923 to 1927. He had previously served as a municipal judge and before that an alderman. As an alderman and judge he would work to become the Democratic candidate for mayor for over two decades.

William Hedgcock Webster is an American attorney and jurist who most recently served as Chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council from 2005 until 2020. He was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit before becoming Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1978 to 1987 and Director of Central Intelligence (CIA) from 1987 to 1991. He is the only person to have held both positions as of September 2020.

William Edward Ayrton, FRS was an English physicist and electrical engineer.

William Knox Schroeder was a student at Kent State University, Ohio, when he was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings.

William Franklin Guest was an American R&B/soul singer best known as a member of Gladys Knight & the Pips along with his cousins Gladys Knight, Merald "Bubba" Knight and Edward Patten. Guest was a member of the group for its entire history from 1952 to 1989. He is a multiple Grammy Award winner and was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1996.

William Frederick Windham was the son of William Howe Windham and the heir to Felbrigg Hall in the county of Norfolk, England. In 1861–62, he was the subject of a "lunacy" case after he married a woman of whom his uncle did not approve, causing his family to claim that he was incapable of managing his affairs. Windham won the case in a ruling that characterised him as eccentric rather than a lunatic.

William Eric Gallas is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played most of his footballing career in France and England before finishing his career in Australia with A-League club Perth Glory. Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006. He then signed for rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2010.

William Edward Miller was an American soldier and Pennsylvania State Senator who fought with the Union Army in the American Civil War. Miller received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for actions taken on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. While ordered to keep his company stationed on a hill, he disobeyed these orders to lead a surprise attack against a Confederate charge. Said to have saved Gettysburg for his decision to break rank, this was claimed to be the first time in American military history where a soldier was awarded for disobeying a direct order.