William James Scott (1812–1882) was a Scottish-born farmer and political figure in Canada West.
He represented South Waterloo in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1858 to 1861 as an independent Conservative.
A native of Aberdeen, Scott came to Canada in 1832 and purchased a lot from Absalom Shade.
He raised Devon cattle and helped found the county agricultural society.
[2] In 1867, following his wife's death and estrangement from his daughter, Scott left Canada for New Zealand, where he settled in Paterangi becoming a wealthy landowner.