List of Famous people named William

William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus (1533–1591). He was a direct descendant of King James I through his paternal grandmother, Agnes Keith, a daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal.

Sir William Cavendish MP was an English politician, knight and courtier. Cavendish held public office and accumulated a considerable fortune, and became one of Thomas Cromwell's "visitors of the monasteries" during the dissolution of the monasteries. He was MP for Thirsk in 1547. In 1547 he married Bess of Hardwick, and the couple began the construction of Chatsworth House in 1552, a project which would not be completed until after his death. His second son William Cavendish (1552–1626) became the first Earl of Devonshire, purchasing his title from the impecunious King James I.

William Egerton (1749–1806) was an English politician and a member of the Egerton family.

William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury, KG, PC was an English nobleman at the court of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

William Sinclair was a Scottish author and rector of St George's Church, Leeds, and of Pulborough, Sussex.

William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill, born William Forbes, was a Scottish peer, the 17th Lord Sempill and 8th Baronet of Craigievar.

William Hay, 3rd Earl of Erroll PC was a Scottish peer. He was the third Earl of Erroll and the fourth Lord Hay of Erroll.

William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne,, styled Viscount Wolmer between 1882 and 1895, was a British politician and colonial administrator, who served as High Commissioner for Southern Africa.