William Jarvis McAlpine (April 30, 1812 – February 16, 1890) was an American civil engineer and politician from New York.

He was Assistant Engineer of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad from 1830 to 1831, and of the St. Lawrence Improvement Company in 1832.

As a Democrat,[vague][citation needed] he was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1852 to August 1, 1853, when he resigned.

In 1886, he was the first Director of the construction of Washington Bridge over the Harlem River in New York City, but resigned after a few months of planning.

He was the first American elected to membership in the Institution of Civil Engineers of Great Britain.