William Ayshford Sanford, DL (1818– 28 October 1902) was a landowner, naturalist and Liberal Party politician, who served as Colonial Secretary of Western Australia from 1852 to 1855.
The family had owned Nynehead Court in Somerset since 1599, and William Ayshford Sanford succeeded to the estate on the death of his father in 1871.
[1] He served as Colonial Secretary from 1852 to 1855, and in this position Sanford asked the assistant Surveyor of the state, Robert Austin, to make observations and collections of birds while exploring inland regions.
After returning to England, Sanford is noted for his interest in natural history, especially the paleontology of the Somerset area.
[2] As a large landowner, he was a prominent public man in Somerset, was chairman of the Wellington bench of magistrates, and a deputy lieutenant of the county.