| William F. Chapin | |
| Birth Date: | 22 May 1831 |
| Death Date: | 14 November 1885 (aged 54) |
| Birth Place: | Butternuts, New York, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Office: | 1st Mayor of Lincoln |
| Term Start: | 4 April 1871 |
| Term End: | 10 April 1872 |
| Predecessor: | Charles Henry Gere (as Chairman) |
| Successor: | Erastus E. Brown |
| Office1: | 2nd Speaker of the Nebraska House of Representatives |
| Term Start1: | 1867 |
| Term End1: | 1868 |
| Predecessor1: | William A. Pollock |
| Successor1: | William McLennan |
| Office2: | 12th Speaker of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives |
| Term Start2: | January 19, 1867 |
| Term End2: | February 18, 1867 |
| Predecessor2: | James G. Megeath |
| Successor2: | Position abolished |
| Office3: | Member of the Nebraska Legislature and Nebraska Territorial Legislature |
| Term Start3: | 1859 |
| Term End3: | 1869 |
| Party: | Republican |
| Children: | 3 |
William Franklin Chapin (22 May 1831 – 14 November 1885) was an American politician who served as the first Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska as a member of the Republican party from 4 April 1871 to 10 April 1872 as well as serving in the Nebraska Legislature, including being its speaker.[1]
Chapin was born on 22 May 1831 in Butternuts, New York and was of English descent. He moved to Rock Bluff, Nebraska in October 1856, where he married Margaret J. Young in January 1858, the couple had three children. During this time, Chapin was working as a farmer, a teacher in Lexington and a lawyer after he was admitted to the bar of Nebraska in 1857.[2]
Chapin first ran for office for the Nebraska Legislature in 1858, but failed to get elected. He tried again in 1859, this time succeeding. Ultimately he baceme the Speaker of Nebraska Territory House of Representatives in 1866, serving until 1869 when he retired from the Legislature. Upon his retirement, Chapin moved to Lincoln where he was elected as the first Mayor of the city on 4 April 1871. He served in this position until 10 April 1872, when he ran for the Republican nomination for the 1872 Nebraska gubernatorial election, losing the primary to Robert Wilkinson Furnas by a few votes.
Chapin retired from politics following his primary loss and died in Grand Island, Nebraska on 14 November 1885, aged 54.