Commodore William Farquharson Burnett, CB (1815 – 7 February 1863) was a senior officer in the Royal Navy.

Burnett was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1838.

[2] Promoted to captain in 1854, he commanded Tortoise at Ascension.

[2] He was then the Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station, between 21 July 1862 until 7 February 1863.

[3] He drowned when HMS Orpheus was wrecked and sank off the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand, on 7 February 1863.