William Edward McLaren (December 15, 1831 - February 19, 1905) was the Bishop of Chicago (formerly Illinois) in the Episcopal Church from 1875 until his death in 1905.

He was educated at the Western University of Pennsylvania and at the Jefferson College from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1851.

He commenced studies for the ministry in 1857 at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, aiming to become a missionary in China.

He became engaged in missionary work in Bogotá, Colombia however he returned to the United States two years later due to ill health.

[1] He was the author of several books, including The Practice of the Interior Life and Earnest Contention for the Faith.