City Readers Digital Historic Collections at the New York Society Library

William Denning (April 1740 – October 30, 1819) was a United States Representative from New York. Born probably in St. John's, Newfoundland in April 1740, he moved to New York City in early youth and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was a member of the Committee of One Hundred in 1775, was a delegate to the New York Provincial Congress from 1775 to 1777 and was a member of the convention of State representatives in 1776 and 1777. He served in the New York State Assembly from 1784 to 1787 and in the New York State Senate from 1798 to 1808. He was a member of the Council of Appointment in 1799.

Denning was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eleventh United States Congress, beginning on March 4, 1809, but never took his seat, and eventually resigned in 1809 or 1810. He died in New York City in 1819; interment was in St. Paul's Churchyard.