Frederick William True (July 8, 1858 – June 25, 1914) was an American biologist, the first head curator of biology (1897–1911) at the United States National Museum, now part of the Smithsonian Institution.

[3] That year he became librarian and acting curator of mammals, which positions he filled until 1883.

[1] He was appointed to the board of the American Philosophical Society, of which he was already a member, on March 2, 1900.

He married Louis Elvina Prentiss in 1887, and at his death two of their children were living.

[3] He was the son of Methodist clergyman and writer Charles Kittredge True.