William Alexander Parsons Martin (April 10, 1827 – December 18, 1916), also known as Dīng Wěiliáng[1] (Chinese: 丁韙良), was an American Presbyterian missionary to China and translator, famous for having translated a number of important Western treatises into Chinese, such as Henry Wheaton's Elements of International Law.

From 1863 till 1868, he worked at Beijing, often as official interpreter for the American Minister to China, Anson Burlingame.

He was reputed to be the first foreigner to make the journey from Beijing to Shanghai on the Grand Canal of China, and described the trip in the Journal of the Asiatic Society (1866).

[4] He acted as an adviser of Chinese officials on questions of international law when disputes arose with European powers, notably during the conflict with France in 1884–1885.

[6] Dr. Martin edited the Peking Scientific Magazine, printed in Chinese, from 1875 till 1878, and also published in the Chinese language: Dr. Martin also contributed to American and English reviews and to the transactions of learned societies, and published in English: The Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has a collection of William Alexander Parsons Martin' original manuscripts.