William H. McCardle (June 1, 1815 - April 28, 1893) was a writer and editor.

[1] In 1866, he was arrested by military authorities under the Reconstruction Act and appealed to the United States Supreme Court in Ex parte McCardle, but the U.S. Congress removed the court's jurisdiction.

[2][3] He was accused of disturbing the peace, inciting insurrection, libel, and impeding Reconstruction for publishing articles denouncing Reconstruction policies and its military commanders.

The Smithsonian has a miniature watercolor on ivory depiction of him.

[5] He married Annie E. Fort and had three children: Annie F., Battle, and Mary W.[1] He co-authored A History of Mississippi with former Mississippi governor Robert Lowry.