Robert Willan FRS (12 November 1757 near Sedbergh, Yorkshire, England – 7 April 1812 in Madeira, Portugal) was an English physician, and the founder of dermatology as a medical specialty.

After completing his medical studies, William worked in Darlington until 1783, when he moved to London to serve as physician at the Carey Street Public Dispensary until 1803.

[1] Following the example of Carl Linnaeus, Willan attempted a taxonomic classification of skin diseases, describing impetigo, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, ichthyosis, sycosis, and pemphigus.

[2] Willan and Bateman working together provided the world's first attempt to classify skin diseases from an anatomical standpoint.

[3] In 1790, Willan received the Fothergill Gold Medal from the Medical Society of London for his classification of skin diseases.