William McMurtry (February 20, 1801 – April 10, 1875) was the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois and a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. McMurtry was born in Mercer County, Kentucky. William's parents were James and Elizabeth (Lucas) McMurtry. His great-grandfather, John McMurtry fought in the American Revolution; dying in the Battle of Cowpens. He and his family settled in Crawford County, Indiana in 1818. It was here that William married Ruth Champion (1795–1864, also of Mercer County, Kentucky), on November 23, 1826. In 1829, William and his young family moved to Knox County, Illinois along with his father and brother James and his wife. It was here that William McMurtry's home remained until his death.