Sir William Bovill, PC, FRS (26 May 1814 – 1 November 1873) was an English lawyer, politician and judge.

He entered the Middle Temple and practised for a short time as a special pleader below the bar.

His special training in a solicitor's office, and its resulting connection, combined with a thorough knowledge of the details of engineering, acquired through his interest in a manufacturing firm in the east end of London, soon brought him a very extensive patent and commercial practice.

[1] Bovill became a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1855, and on 28 March 1857 was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Guildford.

In 1866, he was appointed Solicitor General, an office which he vacated on becoming Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in succession to Sir William Erle in November of the same year.