William Proctor Gould Harding (May 5, 1864 – April 7, 1930) was an American banker who served as the second chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1916 to 1922.

Prior to his term as chairman, Harding served as one of the original members of the Federal Reserve Board, taking office in 1914.

After leaving the Fed, Harding traveled to Cuba and advised the Cuban government on the reorganization of its financial and accounting system.

He returned to United States a year later and was elected governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston from 1923 until his death in 1930.

[2] Harding relinquished his title when asked by President Woodrow Wilson to become a member of the Federal Reserve Board on August 10, 1914, before the onset of World War I.