William Wilson (1823 – November 13, 1874) was a native of England who emigrated to New York and was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War.
Wilson had been a prize fighter and was associated with New York City Democratic political machine being a member of the so-called Mozart Hall Democracy faction headed by Fernando Wood. In 1856, Wilson was elected as an alderman with the backing of the Democratic Party. He was also a real estate agent.
On May 25, 1861, Wilson was appointed colonel of the 6th New York Volunteer Infantry, known as Billy Wilson’s Zouaves.