William F. Albright (May 24, 1891 - September 1971) was an archaelogist, biblical authority, linguist and expert on ceramics. He was born in Coquimbo, Chile to Protestant missionaries Wilbur Finley and Zephine Viola Foxwell Albright, the eldest of six. He married Dr. Ruth Norton in 1921 in Jerusalem. The couple had four sons.

Albright recieved his Ph.D. in 1913 from Johns Hopkins University, where he later taught from 1929 to 1959. One of his major achievements was confirming the authenticity of the Dead Sea Scrolls following their discovery.