William Henry Boulton

William Henry Boulton (April 19, 1812 – February 15, 1874) was a lawyer and political figure in Canada West. He served as Mayor of Toronto from 1845 to 1847. In 1858, he was considered "a colourful figure with varied interests" due to his seemingly polar opposite influences in office. He was inclined to the "sympathies for Family Compact traditions" and the inherent righteousness of the Church of England (especially in educational institutions) juxtaposed to elective institutions, the "rep-by-pop" system, and his interests in republicanism and "popularism".

He was a highly influential member of the Orange Order in Canada, as he was made deputy grand master of British North America for the Toronto Orange Lodge in 1854. William supported the "more Protestant and vocal wing" of the Orange Order, led by George Benjamin over the Orangeism of Ogle Robert Gowan. He was also a keen cricketer and played for the Toronto Cricket Club.

Boulton was somewhat of a demagogue, occasionally opting to fire up opinion over action in order to retain his position, once warning electors that their interests would be sacrificed to the "Tobacco-smoking, Dram Drinking (a "dram" being a "small amount of whisky"), Garlick Eating Frenchmen" following the "Conservative debacle" of 1847–1848.

Boulton was disliked and feared by Reformers Robert Baldwin and George Brown.