| William F. White | |
| Office: | California Bank Commissioner |
| Appointer: | William Irwin George Stoneman |
| Term Start: | November 1, 1879 |
| Term End: | November 1, 1887 |
| Predecessor: | James T. Murphy |
| Successor: | James A. Thompson |
| Birth Name: | William Francis White |
| Birth Place: | County Limerick, Ireland |
| Death Place: | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Pajaro Valley Memorial Park |
| Nationality: | Ireland |
| Education: | Oxford Academy |
| Occupation: | Pioneer, merchant, farmer, author, politician |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Children: | 8, including Stephen |
| Relatives: | Gerald Griffin (uncle) Stephen Mallory (cousin-in-law) |
William Francis White (1816 - May 16, 1890) was an Irish-American pioneer, merchant, farmer, author and politician who served two terms as a California Bank Commissioner from 1879 to 1887.[1]
In 1878, he was elected a delegate to California's Second Constitutional Convention on the Workingmen's ticket, representing Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties.[2] The next year, he was the party's nominee for Governor of California, coming in third place behind Democrat Hugh J. Glenn and Republican George Clement Perkins.[3] After his loss, he was appointed a State Bank Commissioner by outgoing Governor William Irwin, serving in that position until 1887.[4]
He was the father of U.S. Senator Stephen M. White.[5]