William Peter Welsh (1889–1984) was a muralist, portrait painter, and illustrator from Kentucky as well as a soldier who served in both world wars and in the Mexican Border campaign with General Pershing in 1916.

[2] He also painted murals for the Chicago Room of Palmer House and did a series of European style poster advertisements for Pullman sleeping cars.

He was one of six children, four boys and two girls: an older brother, King; a sister, Agatha; Welsh; twins Barry and August (Gus); and Marguerite.

[citation needed] Welsh's father, Bartholomew, died of cancer following a three-year bout with an aneurysm that finally burst.

After his father's death, his mother Sara supported the children by living in boarding homes that belonged to relatives and friends so she could work and earn money.

[citation needed] Welsh got into Academie Julien and Atelier Delecleuse in Paris, France thanks to a connection of his Lexington art teacher, Mary Kinkead.

His first field experience was in 1916 during his time serving with General Pershing in the Mexican Border Campaign in search of Pancho Villa.

Soon after, his French language skills grabbed the attention of his superiors, along with his artistic training, and he was transferred to Langres, where he worked with a camouflage unit.

Welsh landed in Japan in October 1945 and left in July 1946 after the military requested that he go overseas and paint and draw images for historical war records.

[citation needed] Among Welsh's most notable work was his "Lexington Street Scene",[6] a 24-foot-long, 6-foot-high mural that was thought to have been destroyed during the demolition of the Kentuckian Hotel.