William Livingston Alden (1837–1908) was an American journalist, fiction writer, humorist and canoe enthusiast.

[2] He graduated from Jefferson in 1858 and read law in New York City with William M. Evarts, joining the bar in 1860.

[3][4] He then became a journalist, writing for Scribner's Monthly, The Atlantic, New York World and Daily Graphic.

[1][3] He later worked on the editorial staff of The New York Times and produced a weekly column called "Minor Topics".

[6] While in New York City he became an early member of the Theosophical Society, an esoteric organization founded by Helena Blavatsky in 1875.