William Henry Watkins (19 March 1862 – 29 July 1924) was a British co-operative activist.
He completed an apprenticeship as a shipwright before taking a land-based clerical position for the Royal Navy, working in stores.
[1] In 1887, Watkins joined the Plymouth Co-operative Society, and he spent much of the remainder of his life teaching for the movement.
He was a founder of a local co-operative house painters' society, and took various posts in the movement, becoming secretary of the Co-operative Union's south west region, and serving on its central board and various national committees.
A strong advocate of the movement involving itself in politics, he was the first chairman of the Co-operative Party, serving until his death.