William Billington (3 April 1825 – 3 January 1884) was an English poet, living in Blackburn, Lancashire and sometimes writing in dialect.

His parents Benedict and Ann Billington were at the time unemployed hand-loom weavers, working for a contractor for roadmaking.

The songs composed by his uncle Robert Bolton, and the works of local poet Richard Dugdale, a lifelong friend, helped to give an interest in poetry.

[1] In 1839 the family moved to Blackburn, and Billington passed through various stages of employment in the cotton mills, from "doffer" to weaver and "taper".

He liked to debate religion and politics, and his beershop in Bradshaw Street, Blackburn, was a centre for his debating; known as "Poet's Corner", it was a meeting place of local poets including John Critchley Prince.