Winthrop Ellsworth Stone (June 12, 1862 – July 17, 1921) was a professor of chemistry and served as the president of Purdue University from 1900–1921.

Stone studied chemistry and biology at Boston University, while also serving as an assistant chemist to the Massachusetts State Agricultural Experiment Station from 1884–1886.

During Stone's tenure, Purdue's schools of agriculture and engineering grew rapidly.

[1] Stone and his second wife Margaret Winter (married in 1912) enjoyed mountaineering and climbed extensively in the Canadian Rockies and the Selkirks.

On July 17, 1921, Stone fell to his death from the summit of Eon Mountain shortly after completing the peak's first ascent.