William Cotton may refer to:
William Cotton (artist) (1880–1958), American artist and playwright William Cotton (MP for Cambridgeshire) (), see Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency) William Cotton (MP for Newport, Isle of Wight) (in the 1590s), see Newport (Isle of Wight) (UK Parliament constituency) William Cotton (archdeacon of Totnes) (fl. 1621), Anglican priest William Cotton (bishop) (died 1621), bishop of Exeter, 1598–1621 William Cotton (inventor) (1819–1887), inventor of a knitting machine William Cotton (ironmaster) died 1675, husband of Anna Cotton William Cotton (banker) (1786–1866), Governor of the Bank of England, 1842–1845 William Cotton (missionary) (1813–1879), Anglican priest and beekeeper William F. Cotton (1897–2006), central Louisiana businessman William Francis Cotton (died 1917), Irish politician William R. Cotton, American meteorologist Sir William Cotton (Conservative politician) (1822–1902), British politician, Lord Mayor of London, member of parliament for City of London 1874–1885 Will Cotton (born 1965), American painter Bill Cotton (1928–2008), British television producer Billy Cotton (1899–1969), bandleader, father of the above Billy Cotton (footballer, born 1894) (1894–1971), English footballer
See also Harold Cotton (ice hockey) (William Harold Cotton, 1902–1984), Canadian professional ice hockey player