For the later admiral (1893–1972), see Edward Parry (Royal Navy officer); for the New Zealand politician see William Parry (politician); for more persons with this name see William Parry

Rear Admiral Sir William Edward Parry, RN, FRS (19 December 1790 – 8 or 9 July 1855) was an English rear-admiral and Arctic explorer. His 1819 voyage through the Parry Channel was probably the most successful in the long quest for the Northwest Passage. In 1827 he attempted one of the earliest expeditions to the North Pole. He reached 82°45′ North latitude, setting the record for human exploration farthest North that stood for nearly five decades before being surpassed at 83°20′26″ by Albert Hastings Markham in 1875–1876.