William B. Preston

William Preston
Confederate States Senator
from Virginia
In office
February 18, 1862 – November 16, 1862
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byAllen T. Caperton
19th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office
March 8, 1849 – July 22, 1850
PresidentZachary Taylor
Millard Fillmore
Preceded byJohn Y. Mason
Succeeded byWilliam A. Graham
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 12th district
In office
March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849
Preceded byAugustus A. Chapman
Succeeded byHenry A. Edmundson
Member of the Virginia Senate
In office
1840–1844
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
1830–1840
In office
1844-1846
Personal details
BornWilliam Ballard Preston
(1805-11-25)November 25, 1805
DiedNovember 16, 1862(1862-11-16) (aged 56)
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.
PartyWhig
SpouseLucy Redd
EducationHampden-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.