William J. Bailey (January 13, 1807 – February 5, 1876) was a British-born physician who migrated to the United States, where he became a pioneer and politician in the Oregon Country, particularly the Willamette Valley.
[2] In the U.S. he enlisted in the Navy and traveled to the West Coast as a seaman, but deserted his ship in San Francisco.
[3] Years later, Bailey and Gay murdered a Native American youth in the same area in retaliation during a cattle drive north from California.
[4] When the wealthy Ewing Young died without a will or known heir in February 1841, discussions about forming a settler government based in the Willamette Valley began.
[4] During these settler meetings, Bailey was selected as chairman of the committee to draft a constitution and laws for the region.
[5] Many participants in the talks were active in the later Champoeg Meetings, which led to the creation of the Provisional Government of Oregon.
During the provisional government, William Bailey served as a member of the Second Executive Committee, along with Peter G. Stewart and Osborne Russell.