William Cowper
— Noun
– English
~ English surgeon who discovered Cowper's gland (1666-1709)
William Penn Adair Rogers
— Noun
– English
~ United States humorist remembered for his homespun commentary on politics and American society (1879-1935)
William the Conqueror
— Noun
– English
~ duke of Normandy who led the Norman invasion of England and became the first Norman to be King of England; he defeated Harold II at the battle of Hastings in 1066 and introduced many Norman customs into England (1027-1087)
William Seward Burroughs
— Noun
– English
~ United States inventor who patented the first practical adding machine (1855-1898)
William Thompson
— Noun
– English
~ British physicist who invented the Kelvin scale of temperature and pioneered undersea telegraphy (1824-1907)
William Kidd
— Noun
– English
~ Scottish sea captain who was hired to protect British shipping in the Indian Ocean and then was accused of piracy and hanged (1645-1701)
William Curtis
— Noun
– English
~ English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)
William Inge
— Noun
– English
~ United States playwright (1913-1973)
William III
— Noun
– English
~ King of England and Scotland and Ireland; he married the daughter of James II and was invited by opponents of James II to invade England; when James fled, William III and Mary II were declared joint monarchs (1650-1702)
William Richard Morris
— Noun
– English
~ British industrialist who manufactured automobiles and created a philanthropic foundation (1877-1963)
William Bradford
— Noun
– English
~ United States printer (born in England) whose press produced the first American prayer book and the New York City's first newspaper (1663-1752)
William S. Gilbert
— Noun
– English
~ a librettist who was a collaborator with Sir Arthur Sullivan in a famous series of comic operettas (1836-1911)
William Congreve
— Noun
– English
~ English playwright remembered for his comedies (1670-1729)
William Mitchell
— Noun
– English
~ United States aviator and general who was an early advocate of military air power (1879-1936)