Sir William Edward Dudley (29 May 1868 – 7 May 1938) was an administrator in the British co-operative movement and a local politician. He lived in Runcorn, Cheshire, throughout his life and, after working with Bridgewater Navigation, he joined the co-operative movement in 1893. Dudley served in various positions in the movement, initially locally and later nationally, eventually becoming president of the Co-operative Wholesale Society. During and after the First World War he was an adviser to the government on matters concerning food, and was knighted for this service in 1936. He was also a local politician, and served on a number of local committees.