William Ford De Saussure (February 22, 1792 – March 13, 1870) was a United States senator from South Carolina.

He graduated from Harvard University in 1810, studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Charleston and Columbia.

In 1847 he was signatory to a letter advocating for the creation of more pro-slavery media environment in Washington, D.C.[1] The letter is known only because it was republished in abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, reads in part: "The object of this communication is to obtain your aid and active co-operation, in establishing, at Washington, a Paper which shall represent Southern views on the subject of SLAVERY —Southern views of Southern Rights and Interests.

"[1] De Saussure was appointed May 10, 1852, and then elected November 29, 1852,[2] as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of R. Barnwell Rhett and served from May 10, 1852, to March 4, 1853.

The descendants of William Ford De Saussure include Arthur Ravenel, Jr. (1927-2023), a member of the United States Congress who represented South Carolina from 1987 to 1995.