William Arthur Watts

William Arthur Watts (26 May 1930 – 26 April 2010) was an Irish academic who served as the 41st Provost of Trinity College Dublin from 1981 to 1991. He was Professor of Botany at Trinity College.

He was born in Dublin's docklands and studied Modern Languages at Trinity, where he was elected a Scholar in 1950, graduating in 1952 and in Natural Sciences the following year.

He became a fellow of Trinity in 1960, Reader in Botany in 1964, Professor in 1966 and Provost from 1981 to 1991.

He was President of the Royal Irish Academy from 1982 to 1986.