William Jackson Bean CVO ISO (26 May 1863 in Yorkshire – 19 April 1947 in Kew, Surrey) was a British botanist and plantsman, who was curator of Kew Gardens from 1922 to 1929.

He was responsible for some of the present collections of trees and woody plants there.

[1] He remained at Kew for over 45 years, reaching the position of curator in 1922.

[2] He wrote the first two-volume edition of the reference work Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, which was published in 1914.

[1] His son, George Ewart Bean (1903-1977) was a leading authority on the classical heritage of Turkey.