William Withering (* 17. March 1741 in Willington, Shropshire; "† 6 October 1799 in Birmingham) was a British Botaniker and physician. He discovered the medical effect of the Digitalisglykoside.

Withering studied medicine at Edinburgh University, and worked starting from 1779 at the Birmingham General Hospital. According to the legend one of its patients with heart weakness took a traditional herb mixture, which showed good effect. Withering discovered that the active substance was only in the sheets of the red thimble (Digitalis purpurea). From 1776 to 1779 Withering in a set of experiments examined the effectiveness of the contents materials of the different plant parts of the thimble at dozens of its heart patients. With the fact it closed among other things that the plant poison in the body of the patients enriched itself, because the effect increased with administration during a longer period away. The later research has Witherings conclusion confirms Jean Marie Pelt: The secrets of the welfare plants, publishing house Knesebeck, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-89660-291-8, S. 106ff.

Apart from its medical activity Withering published a book concerning the British Flora, which was printed in many editions. In addition it carried pioneer work out with the regulation of mushrooms. The standard abbreviation of its name used for botanische designations is With.

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