William W. Wheaton (April 5, 1833 – November 11, 1891) was a wholesale grocer, mayor of Detroit, Michigan, chair of the Michigan Democratic State Convention, and state representative.

[1] His father died in 1844, leaving the younger Wheaton to care for his mother.

[2] He attended school in New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut, and at the age of 16 began working at the wholesale establishment of Charles H. Northam & Co.[1] After gaining some experience at Northam & Co. and rising to the position of bookkeeper and confidential clerk, Wheaton moved to Detroit in 1853 and joined Moore, Foote, and Co., wholesale grocers.

[3] He later ran for mayor of Detroit, and was elected twice, serving two two-year terms from 1868 - 1871.

He also served as chairman of the Democratic State Convention,[1] although the nomination of Horace Greeley for president later soured him on politics.