William Walsh

William Walsh (6 October 1662 – 15 March 1708) of Abberley Hall, Worcestershire was an English poet and critic and a Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons from 1698 to 1708.

Walsh was the second of eight children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Walsh of Abberley Hall. The last of his siblings, Octavia Walsh, was also, secretly, a poet. He entered Wadham College, Oxford, as a gentleman commoner in 1678. Leaving the university without a degree, he settled in his native county.

Walsh was returned MP for Worcestershire in 1698, 1701 and 1702. In 1705 he sat for Richmond, Yorkshire. On the accession of Queen Anne he was made "gentleman of the horse," a post which he held till his death, noted by Narcissus Luttrell on 18 March 1708.