William Hayden English

William H. English
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byCyrus L. Dunham
Succeeded byJames A. Cravens
Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
In office
March 8, 1852 – June 21, 1852
Preceded byJohn Wesley Davis
Succeeded byOliver Brooks Torbet
Member of the
Indiana House of Representatives
In office
1851–1853
Personal details
Born
William Hayden English

(1822-08-27)August 27, 1822
Lexington, Indiana, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 1896(1896-02-07) (aged 73)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Resting placeCrown Hill Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseEmma Jackson
Children2, including William
EducationHanover College (no degree)

William Hayden English (August 27, 1822 – February 7, 1896) was an American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1853 to 1861 and was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1880.

English retired from the House in 1861, but remained involved in party affairs. In the American Civil War he was a War Democrat, supporting the Union war effort. As well as pursuing a political career, he was an author and businessman. He owned an opera house, was president of a bank, and developed many residential properties. English was successful in business, and became one of the wealthiest men in Indiana. After nearly two decades in the private sector, English returned to political life as the Democratic nominee for vice president in 1880. English and his presidential running mate, Winfield Scott Hancock, lost narrowly to their Republican opponents, James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur.