William Patterson was a 19th century American politician.

From 1833 until 1836 he represented the state of Ohio in the United States Congress as a Jacksonian. From 1837 until 1838 he represented the state of New York as a Whig.

William Patterson (1890-1980) was a Canadian socialist politician.

In 1944 his Liberal party suffered a landslide defeat.

William Patterson was a 19th century engineer and boatbuilder.

He was one of the designers of the SS Great Britain, the worlds first modern vessel.

William Patterson was a leader in the Communist Party USA and head of the International Labor Defense , a group that offered legal representation to communists, trade unionists, and African-Americans in cases involving issues of political or racial persecution.