William Dobson was an English Baroque painter of the 17th century.
William Dobson may also refer to:
- William Dobson (academic) (1650–1731), English academic, President of Trinity College, Oxford
- William Polk Dobson (1793–1846), American politician, state senator for Surry County, North Carolina
- William Charles Thomas Dobson (1817–1898), English painter
- William Dobson (antiquary) (1820–1884), English journalist and antiquary
- William Lambert Dobson (1833–1898), Australian judge and politician
- William J. Dobson (born 1973), American journalist