William Davis may refer to:

Academia

William C. Davis (historian) William Charles "Jack" Davis (born 1946) is an American historian who was a professor of history at Virginia Tech and the former director of programs at that school's Virginia Center for Civil War Studies. Specializing in the American Civil War, ...

(born 1946), American historian and university professor *

William H. Davis (educator) William H. Davis (November 27, 1848March 24, 1938) was an American educator and school administrator in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Davis was the first formal teacher of Booker T. Washington, and he was the first and only African-American ...

(1848–1938), American educator and school administrator * William Hatcher Davis (1939–2017), professor of philosophy, Auburn University *

William Stearns Davis William Stearns Davis (April 30, 1877 – February 15, 1930) was an American educator, historian, and author. He has been cited as one who "contributed to history as a scholarly discipline, . . . utwas intrigued by the human side of history, w ...

(1877–1930), American educator, historian, and writer *

William Watson Davis William Watson Davis (February 12, 1884 - April 5, 1960) was a professor and author in the United States. He was part of the white supremacist Dunning School of Confederate sympathizing anti-Reconstruction Southern scholars during the Jim Crow era. ...

(1884–1960), professor and author

Arts and entertainment

Film, television, and theater

William B. Davis William Bruce Davis (born January 13, 1938) is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as the Cigarette Smoking Man on ''The X-Files''. Besides appearing in many TV programs and movies, he founded his own acting school, the William Davis Ce ...

(born 1938), actor, professor, and waterskier * Will S. Davis (1882–1920), American film director * Wee Willie Davis (1906–1981), American film actor *

Bill C. Davis William Clarke Davis (August 24, 1951February 26, 2021) was an American playwright and actor. He was best known for his 1980 play '' Mass Appeal''. Other noted works of his include ''Dancing in the End Zone'', ''Wrestlers'', ''Spine'', ''Avow' ...

(1952–2021), American playwright and actor * Robert Hartford-Davis (1923–1977), born William Henry Davis, British producer, director and writer

Music

Bill Davis (musician) William Davis (born New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is the founder, lead guitarist, and lead vocalist of the rock band Dash Rip Rock, and a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Davis foun ...

, American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter *

Wild Bill Davis Wild Bill Davis (November 24, 1918 – August 17, 1995) was the stage name of American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger William Strethen Davis. He is best known for his pioneering jazz electric organ recordings and for his tenure with t ...

(1918–1995), American jazz musician * William "Bill" Davis, baritone, founding member of the 1950s R&B group

The Crows The Crows were an American R&B singing group formed in 1951 who achieved commercial success in the 1950s. The group's first single and only hit, " Gee", released in June 1953, has been credited with being the first rock n’ roll hit by a rock ...

Will Davis (musician) William E. Davis (February 17, 1926 – March 24, 1984) was an American jazz pianist. Life and career Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 17, 1926.

(1926–1984), jazz pianist

Other media

* William Davis (journalist) (1933–2019), economics editor, BBC presenter, editor of ''Punch'', 1969–1977 * William Davis (artist) (1812–1873), Irish Pre-Raphaelite artist * William Davis (photographer), American photographer *

William Moore Davis William Moore Davis (May 22, 1829 – March 26, 1920) was an American painter best known for his landscapes. A native of Long Island, he spent most of his life near Port Jefferson and has been praised as the greatest painter of that village. A c ...

(1829–1920), American painter * William Virgil Davis (born 1940), American poet * Bill Davis (artist) (born 1949), American illustrator, animation director and designer, graphic designer, and painter

Military

* William A. Davis Jr. (1927–2017), engineer for the United States Army *

William Church Davis William C. Davis (May 11, 1866 – September 23, 1958) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Boxer Rebellion, World War I, he attained the rank of major general and was a ...

(1866–1958), U.S. Army general *

William G. M. Davis William George Mackey Davis (May 9, 1812 – March 11, 1898) was a Confederate States Army brigadier general and blockade runner during the American Civil War. He was a lawyer and cotton speculator before the war and a lawyer in Washington, D.C. a ...

(1812–1898), Confederate States Army general *

William V. Davis William Virginius Davis Jr. (January 28, 1902 – July 25, 1981) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy. Early life William V. Davis Jr. was one of four children of the marriage of William V. Davis, Sr. and Winifred Bonney, of Savannah, Geo ...

(1902–1981), United States Navy admiral *

William Davis (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Sir William Wellclose Davis (11 October 1901 – 29 October 1987) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. Early life and education Davis was the elder son of Walter Stewart Davis (1856-1946), JP, of ...

(1901–1987), British admiral

Politics

Bill Davis William Grenville Davis, (July 30, 1929 – August 8, 2021) was a Canadian politician who served as the 18th premier of Ontario from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the member of provincial Parliament for Peel in the 1959 provincia ...

(1929–2021), Canadian politician, premier of Ontario * Will Davis (politician) (born 1968), Illinois State Representative for the 30th district * Will Davis (Virginia politician), Virginia state legislator for the 39th district * William B. Davis (politician) (died 1935), American politician from Maryland * William C. Davis (American politician) (1867–1934), 11th lieutenant governor of Alabama *

William C. Davis (Canadian politician) William C. Davis (born September 1, 1939) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1987 who represented the riding of Scarborough Centre.William C. ...

(born 1939), Canadian politician *

William E. Davis William Eugene "Bud" Davis (February 15, 1929 – September 24, 2021) was an American university president, Democratic politician, and football coach. He was an interim head football coach for the Colorado Buffaloes for the 1962 season. He was ...

(1929–2021), former university president, Democratic politician and football coach *

William Hammatt Davis William Hammatt Davis (August 29, 1879 – August 13, 1964) was the Chairman of the War Labor Board (WLB) in the administration of President Franklin Roosevelt, where his job was keeping industrial peace between management and labor. He was also ...

(1879–1964), American politician *

William Henry Davis William Henry Davis (18 February 1872 – 7 January 1951) was an educator, pharmacist, and a United States government official. In the Woodrow Wilson administration he was appointed as a special assistant to the Secretary of War, the highest p ...

(1872–1951), appointed assistant to the Secretary of War, 1917 *

William H. Davis (sheriff) William H. Davis served as Allegheny County Sheriff from 1954 to 1970. See also * Police chief * List of law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania This is a list of law enforcement agencies in the state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania says i ...

, Pittsburgh City Council member, 1952–1954; Sheriff of Allegheny County, 1954–1970 * William H. Davis (Pennsylvania state representative), served 1854 * William H. Davis (Pennsylvania state senator) (1900–1955), served 1955 *

William Lovel Davis William Lovel Davis (24 September 184420 October 1932) was an English-born Australian politician. He was born at Hallingley in Sussex to farmers James and Elizabeth Davis. He was educated at Hailsham, and in 1857 his parents moved to Herstmonc ...

(1844–1932), Australian politician *

William Morris Davis (congressman) William Morris Davis (August 16, 1815August 5, 1891), was an abolitionist, author and a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Among his friends were the New York sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, and the lock inven ...

(1815–1891), U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania * William Walter Davis (1840–1923), Australian politician * William Z. Davis (1839–1923), Republican politician in the U.S. State of Ohio and Ohio Supreme Court Judge * William Howe Davis (1904–1982), American politician, mayor of Orange, New Jersey

Science

* William Davis (cardiologist) (born 1957), American cardiologist and author of ''Wheat Belly'' *

William C. Davis Jr. William C. Davis Jr. (1921–2010) was an American ballistics engineer, best remembered as a writer and editor on ballistics for the '' American Rifleman'', published by the National Rifle Association.Mark A. Keefe, IV "William C. Davis, Jr., ''A ...

(1921–2010), American ballistics engineer and writer *

William Conan Davis William Conan Davis (August 22, 1926 - March 16, 2022) was a professor emeritus and was chair of natural sciences at St. Philip's College in San Antonio, Texas. The William C. Davis Science Building is named in his honor. He is best known for ...

(1926–2022), African-American scientist * William Morris Davis (1850–1934), American geographer, geologist and meteorologist * William T. Davis (1862–1945), naturalist, entomologist and historian

Sports

American football

* William C. Davis (American football) (1938–2020), American football coach *

Willie Davis (defensive end) Willie D. Davis (July 24, 1934 – April 15, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Davis played college football for the Grambling State Tigers before being drafted 181 ...

(1934–2020), American football defensive end * Willie Davis (wide receiver) (born 1967), American football wide receiver *

Will Davis (linebacker) William Benjamin Davis, Jr. (born June 2, 1986) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois Fighting Illini, Illinois. Early ...

(born 1986), American football defensive end *

Will Davis (cornerback) Will Davis (born May 8, 1990) is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Utah State. Early years Davis was born in Compton, California Ma ...

(born 1990), American football cornerback *

Bill Davis (coach) William R. Davis (December 4, 1941 – March 17, 2002) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at South Carolina State University, Savannah State University, Tennessee State University, and Johnson C. Smith University ...

(1941–2002), American football coach

Baseball

* William Davis (baseball), Negro league baseball player * Willie Davis (baseball) (1940–2010), center fielder in Major League Baseball *

Will Davis (baseball) William Randall Davis Jr. (born May 29, 1984) is an American college baseball coach and former catcher. Davis is the head coach of the Lamar Cardinals baseball team. Davis is the son of former college baseball coach Randy Davis who was an assista ...

(born 1984), American college baseball coach *

Bill Davis (baseball) Arthur Willard Davis (June 6, 1942 – January 13, 2023) was an American Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Cleveland Indians from 1965 to 1966 and the San Diego Padres in 1969. Due to his imposing , frame, Davis was nicknam ...

(1942–2023), baseball player * Babe Davis (William L. Davis, fl.1937–1939), American baseball player

Basketball

Will Davis (basketball) William Sidney Davis II (born November 9, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA G League Ignite of the NBA G League. He played college basketball at UC Irvine. Early life and high school Davis was born and grew up in Sa ...

(born 1992), American basketball * Willie Davis (basketball) (born 1945), basketball player * Bill Davis (basketball) (1921–1975), basketball player

Rugby union

* Will Davis (rugby union) (born 1990), English rugby union player * Bill Davis (rugby union) (born 1942), New Zealand rugby union and softball player *

Wendy Davis (rugby union) William Edward Norman Davis better known as Wendy Davis (7 September 1913 – c. 2002) was an international rugby union prop who represented Wales on three occasions and played club rugby for Cardiff. His international rugby career was curtailed ...

(William Edward Norman Davis, 1913–2002), international rugby union player for Wales

Other sports

* Bill Davis (darts player) (born 1959), American darts player * Bill Davis (NASCAR owner), motorsports car owner * J. William Davis, father of the National Letter of Intent for college athletics *

William Davis (cricketer, born 1880) William Ernest Davis (26 November 1880 – 27 January 1959) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1903 and 1911 for Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Gr ...

(1880–1959), who played for Surrey, London County and the South of England from 1903 to 1911 * Will Davis (cricketer) (born 1996), English cricketer * Will Davis (cyclist) (1877–?), French Olympic cyclist *

William Davis (golfer) William Frederick "Willie" Davis (1861–1902) was a Scottish professional golfer who designed two of the five charter clubs of the United States Golf Association (USGA) including Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and Newport Country Club. At the time ...

(died 1902), Scottish golfer * Bill Davis (ice hockey) (born 1954), Canadian ice hockey player

Other people

William Davis (miner) William Davis (June 3, 1887 – June 11, 1925) was a coal miner from Cape Breton Island. He was born in Gloucestershire, England and died in New Waterford, Nova Scotia. His name is well-remembered in Nova Scotia due to the annual observance of ...

(1887–1925), miner killed during strike protest leading to Davis Day *

William Heath Davis William Heath "Kanaka" Davis, Jr. (1822 – 1909) was a merchant and trader in Alta California who helped to establish "New Town" (now Downtown San Diego) in San Diego, California. Life Davis was born in 1822 in Honolulu in the Kingdom of Hawaii ...

(1822–1909), early settler of San Diego, California, USA *

William John Davis William John Davis Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (6 August 1848–20 October 1934) was a British people, British trade unionist. Born in Birmingham, Davis began working in a brass foundry. In 1869, he represented his local reform or ...

(1848–1934), British trade unionist *

William Rhodes Davis William Rhodes Davis (February 10, 1889 – August 1, 1941) was a United States businessman whose oil interests involved him in furthering the strategic interests of Nazi Germany. Early years Davis was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 10, 1 ...

(1889–1941), American oil man and Nazi collaborator * William Davis (bishop) (1908–1987), Anglican bishop and archbishop in Canada *

William Davis (judge) Sir William Easthope Davis (born 20 June 1954), styled The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Davis, is a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. He was educated at Wyggeston Boys' School, Leicester and Queen Mary University of London. He was call ...

(born 1954), judge of the High Court of England and Wales *

William Davis (priest) William Davis was an English priest in the 17th century. Davis was educated at the University of Oxford. He became Vicar of Chard in 1642 and canon of Wells Cathedral in 1642; and Archdeacon of Bath The Archdeacon of Bath is a senior ecclesia ...

, English priest *

William George Davis William George Davis (born February 3, 1984) is an American serial killer and former nurse. He was convicted of capital murder for killing four patients with air injections after they received heart surgery at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Ho ...

, American serial killer and former nurse