William Rowley (c. 1690-January 1 1768), K.B., was Admiral of the Fleet in the British Royal Navy and a Member of Parliament.
He greatly distinguished himself in the lost Battle of Toulon (1744) on HMS Stirling Castle. He became Rear-Admiral in 1749, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty in 1751 and Admiral of the Fleet on December 17 1762. He was also an Knight in the Order of the Bath.
He entered Parliament in 1750 as member for the naval port of Taunton, and represented that town until 1754. in that year he was choden to represent Portsmouth until 1761.
William Rowley married Arabella Dawson and had five children.
Several of his descendants reached high positions in the Navy: