Charles William Cathcart (July 24, 1809 – August 22, 1888) was a 19th-century American politician who was both a United States representative and Senator from Indiana.

He was born in Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal where his father, James Leander Cathcart was the United States Consul.

He travelled to Spain with his parents, attended private schools, and returned to the United States in 1819 and went to sea.

He engaged in agricultural pursuits near La Porte in 1837, was a United States land surveyor, and was a member of the Indiana Senate from 1837 to 1840.

Cathcart was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1849; he was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Whitcomb and served from December 6, 1852, to January 18, 1853.