William Portman

Sir William Portman (died 1557) was an English judge, politician and Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

When Richard Rich, later 1st Baron Rich was ill, Portman was one of those who, by letters patent of 26 October 1551, were commissioned to despatch chancery matters; and in the following January he was commissioned to aid the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Thomas Goodrich, Bishop of Ely, in similar affairs.

He seems to have been reluctant to adopt the new protestant religion, and found no difficulty in keeping office under the catholic Queen Mary.

He died early in 1556–7, and was buried, with a stately funeral, on 10 February 1556–7 at St Dunstan-in-the-West, London.

He married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Gilbert, who was connected by descent with the eminent legal family of Fitzjames.