William Whitby was a Virginia politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 and landowner. He served as a burgess

House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...

 1642–44, in the early stages of the English Civil War

English Civil War

The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...

, and again from 1652–55, after Virginia surrendered to Parliamentary control. During the 1640s he was a justice of the Warwick County

Warwick County, Virginia

Warwick County was a county in Southeast Virginia that was created from Warwick River Shire, one of eight created in the Virginia Colony in 1634. It became the City of Warwick on July 16, 1952...

 court. He served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses in the 1653 session, following the one-day speakership of Walter Chiles

Walter Chiles

Lieutenant Colonel Walter Chiles was a Virginia politician and merchant. He moved to Virginia around 1638, and served as a burgess off and on from 1642 to 1653, representing Charles City County and later James City County. He also served on the Governor's council in 1651, but was removed the...

.