William Webbe (fl. 1542)

William Webbe was an English translator and religious reformer active during the mid-16th century. He is best known for his English translation of Theodor Bibliander's Generalis ratio perficiendarum translationum (1540) which Webbe rendered as A General Rule to Teache the Methode, to Translate Trewe and Soundly out of Latin into English. This translation, published in 1542, is significant as one of the earliest English works offering guidance on translation theory and practice.

Webbe's preface to his translation reveals his Protestant sympathies and his concern with providing accessible religious texts in the vernacular. He argued for the importance of accurate and clear translations to facilitate wider understanding of scripture and religious doctrine amongst the English populace. Beyond Bibliander's work, little is definitively known about William Webbe's life or other writings. The "fl. 1542" designation indicates that he flourished, or was most active, around that specific year.