William Harrington Ellis (October 31, 1859 - February 28, 1921) was a Canadian businessman and newspaper publisher based in Victoria, British Columbia. He was born in Port Hope, Ontario, where he grew up and apprenticed as a printer. He lived briefly in Winnipeg before settling in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1884. He immediately took a position with the local newspaper, The Colonist. Around 1886, Ellis partnered with Albert George Sargison (1862 - 1929) and W. R. Higgins to purchase The Colonist from the estate of David William Higgins (1834 - 1886). The colonist operated under the umbrella of Ellis and Co., which also published broadsides, books, guides, and views. In 1892, The Colonist was sold to James Dunsmuir (1851 - 1920). Ellis went on to invest heavily in real estate. He was married to Ada Leslie Withrow.