Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye (August 25, 1850 – February 22, 1896) was an American humorist.

There he served as justice of the peace, superintendent of schools, member of the city council and postmaster.

[1] He began early to contribute humorous sketches to the newspapers, using the pen name of "Bill Nye" after a character in a famous poem by Bret Harte popularly known as "The Heathen Chinee".

It launched him to national fame, gaining subscribers in every state and some foreign countries.

Late in his career, he was briefly associated with James Whitcomb Riley with whom he wrote two books.