William Lenoir (May 8, 1751 – May 6, 1839) was an American Revolutionary War officer and prominent statesman in late 18th-century and early 19th-century North Carolina.

He served with distinction in the American Revolutionary War, in particular taking part in the Battle of Kings Mountain as a captain in the Wilkes County Regiment of the North Carolina militia under Benjamin Cleveland.

While serving as a major[2] of a company of the Wilkes County Regiment, he fought at the Battle of Stono Ferry, the Siege of Savannah, and at Pyle's Massacre (during which his horse was said to be the only American Patriot casualty).

[4][5] Lenoir, an anti-federalist, served for many years as a justice of the peace and Clerk of Court for Wilkes County, North Carolina.

He was a founding member (and briefly, the first president) of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Lenoir Hall is named for him.

[6] From 1781 to 1795, Lenoir was also a member of the state Legislature representing Wilkes County and served as Speaker of the North Carolina Senate from 1790 to 1795.

[7][6] Lenoir was the runner-up in the 1792 North Carolina gubernatorial election,[8] despite withdrawing his name from consideration, and unsuccessfully ran for the 12th congressional district in 1802 and 1806, finishing third in the former and losing to Meshack Franklin in the latter.

His epitaph, written by Governor David Swain, read in part, "A genuine Whig whose highest eulogy is the record of his deeds.