William Anthony Richardson (August 27, 1795 – April 20, 1856) was an early California entrepreneur, influential in the development of Yerba Buena, the forerunner of the city of San Francisco.

Richardson arrived as second mate[2] aboard the British whaling ship Orion in San Francisco Bay in 1822, shortly after Mexico had won its independence from Spain.

An English mariner who had picked up a fluency in Spanish during his travels, he jumped ship after meeting and dancing with a local woman, Maria Antonia Martinez, at an all-night fiesta.

This settlement aimed to serve as a trading post and supply point for ships navigating San Francisco Bay.

[2] Richardson's seafaring experience was instrumental in his also being appointed Port Captain, responsible for overseeing maritime commerce and often personally piloting arriving ships to their anchorage.