William Matheson (scholar)

William Matheson (born 1924, died 2013) was a prominent scholar of Old Norse and medieval literature. He was a professor in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Washington University in St. Louis. Matheson's work focused on the Icelandic sagas, Old Norse mythology, and medieval Scandinavian history and culture. He was particularly known for his contributions to the study of saga manuscripts and their transmission.

Matheson earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University. His publications include scholarly articles, book chapters, and editions of Old Norse texts. He also served on the editorial boards of several journals dedicated to Scandinavian studies. His work is characterized by meticulous textual analysis and a deep understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the literature he studied. He made significant contributions to the field, helping to shape the understanding of Old Norse literature for generations of scholars.