William Preston | |
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| Confederate States Senator from Virginia | |
| In office February 18, 1862 – November 16, 1862 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Allen T. Caperton |
| 19th United States Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office March 8, 1849 – July 22, 1850 | |
| President | Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore |
| Preceded by | John Y. Mason |
| Succeeded by | William A. Graham |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 12th district | |
| In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | Augustus A. Chapman |
| Succeeded by | Henry A. Edmundson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Ballard Preston November 25, 1805 Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | November 16, 1862 (aged 56) Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse | Lucy Redd |
| Education | Hampden-Sydney College University of Virginia, Charlottesville (LLB) |
William Ballard Preston (November 25, 1805 – November 16, 1862) was an American politician who served as a Confederate States Senator from Virginia from February 18, 1862, until his death in November. He previously served as the 19th United States Secretary of the Navy from 1849 to 1850. He is also the cousin of William Campbell Preston and William Preston.