Sir William Vallance Whiteway (29 July 1828 – 24 August 1908) was a Newfoundland lawyer and politician who served three terms as Premier of the colony of Newfoundland. Born in St. John's, Whiteway was educated at the Wesleyan Academy and later studied law, being called to the bar in 1849. He entered politics as a member of the Liberal Party, representing the district of Trinity Bay in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1861.
Whiteway first became Premier in 1878, leading a coalition government that pursued economic development and infrastructural projects, notably the construction of the Newfoundland Railway. His administration promoted settlement and trade, but faced fiscal challenges and political opposition. After a brief resignation in 1885, he returned to office in 1889, continuing to advocate for railway expansion and public works. A third term began in 1894; however, his tenure was cut short by the financial collapse of the Bank of Newfoundland and a subsequent political crisis that led to his resignation in 1897.
Beyond his premiership, Whiteway held several cabinet portfolios, including Attorney General and Minister of Finance. He was knighted in 1904 for his public service. Whiteway died in St. John’s in 1908. His legacy includes contributions to Newfoundland’s infrastructural modernization and the political debates surrounding responsible government in the colony.