William Paterson (4 June 1847 – 11 March 1920) was an Australian politician and businessman in Western Australia.

Paterson was born in Pinjarra, in Western Australia's Peel region.

In 1872, after their father's death, Paterson and his brother took over the family property at Pinjarra.

In 1886, Paterson relocated from Pinjarra to Jarrahdale, living on the property that would eventually become the Whitby Falls Hospital.

[2] Paterson resigned from parliament in February 1895 to become the managing trustee of the Agricultural Bank of Western Australia, and the following year moved to what is now Mosman Park (a western suburb of Perth).