William Hawes (28 November 1736 – 5 December 1808) was an English physician and philanthropist, and one of the founders of the Royal Humane Society.

[1] After passing some time as an apprentice of Mr. Robert Carsan, a medical practitioner of Vauxhall, he became assistant to a Mr. Dicks in the Strand and eventually succeeded him in his practice.

[2] Around 1773, Hawes became well known as a campaigner for the possibility of resuscitating persons apparently dead from drowning, or other causes of asphyxia.

For a year he offered a reward to anyone who brought to him, or his supporters, the body of a person who had been taken out of the River Thames unconscious, within a reasonable time after immersion.

[2] This was done, and at the meeting "The Institution for affording immediate relief to persons apparently dead from drowning" was formed, later renamed the Humane Society, and acquiring the "Royal" prefix in 1787.