William Betts

William Betts (died 1738) of Epsom, Surrey was a British merchant, financier and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1710 and 1730.

Betts was raised by the family of George Dodington of Eastbury, Dorset, but his origins are unknown. He became a successful London merchant and financier and made a fortune through directorships and other means.

Betts was invited by local Whigs to stand for parliament at Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, but his journey went through some challenges. At the 1710 general election, he was returned as Member of Parliament after a contest, but his election was declared void on 17 March 1711 after allegations of bribery. This resulted in a by-election on 18 April 1711, in which he topped the poll, but was unseated on petition on 22 May 1711. In May, he was elected as a Director of the East India Company, and by this time held some £4,000 worth of Bank of England stock. At the 1713 general election, he was elected MP for Weymouth for the third time, but after voting against the expulsion of Richard Steele on 18 March 1714, was unseated on petition on 3 June 1714.

Betts died unmarried 14 March 1738, leaving £5,000 to George Bubb Dodington and £2,000 to Thomas Wyndham, both nephews of George Dodington, and £1,000 to John Tucker.