William C. Skinner (January 26, 1855 – March 8, 1922) was born in Malone, New York.
He clerked for the New York Legislature and railroad in Albany before moving to Hartford, Connecticut, to attend Trinity College in 1872.
Skinner served as president of Colt a second time until 1921, when he resigned to become chairman of the company's board of directors.
Skinner acquired contracts for business machines, calculators, dishwashers, motorcycles, and automobiles; all marketed under a name other than Colt.
Other measures included cutting the work week, reducing salaries, and keeping more employees on the payroll than they needed, all of which kept the company in business after Skinner's retirement.