William Dawson (college president)

William Dawson
2nd President of the College of William & Mary
In office 1743–1752
Preceded by	James Blair
Succeeded by	William Stith
Personal details
Born	1704
Died	1752
Alma mater	Queen's College, Oxford

Reverend William Dawson (1704?–1752) was the second president of The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. A graduate of the Queen's College at Oxford University, Dawson ran the College from 1743–1752. He is also the brother of Thomas Dawson, who was the fourth president of William & Mary (1755–1760).

Dawson was also an Anglican clergyman, a rector at the Jamestown Parish, a commissary of the Bishop of London, a moral philosophy professor at William and Mary, a poet, a chaplain of the House of Burgesses, and a member of the Governor's Council.

Reverend Dawson and his brother together are the namesakes for Dawson Hall in the Bryan Complex at William & Mary.

Dawson married 1st, Mary Stith, a granddaughter of John Stith and William Randolph. He was the grandfather of Congressman William Johnston Dawson.

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