William Henry Venable (April 29, 1836 – 1920) was an American author and educator.

He began to teach at seventeen years of age, and during his vacations attended teachers' institutes in Oxford, Ohio, being one of the first teachers in the state upon whom the Ohio board of examiners conferred a life certificate.

He was graduated at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and in 1862, became professor of natural science in Chickering Classical and Scientific Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the same year, was its principal and proprietor in 1881, organized and was first president of the Cincinnati Society of Political Education, and in 1882 founded and conducted in that city the African School of Popular Science and History.

[2] His son Emerson Venable also taught English at Walnut Hills.

His granddaughter Evelyn Venable attended Walnut Hills and went on to become a noted actress.