William Wanton (September 15, 1670 – December 1733)[1] was a governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving a short term prior to his death.

He spent most of his adult life in the civil and military service of the colony and commanded a sloop for chasing privateers.

Wanton was a merchant who became a freeman of Newport, Rhode Island in 1698, and was thereafter very active in the civil and military affairs of the town and colony.

Wanton was elected governor of the Rhode Island colony in 1732, but only served one full term, dying in office during his second term sometime between 3 December 1733 and 4 February 1734.

[1] Long after his death, his widow married in 1745 Daniel Updike.