William Francis Lynch (April 1, 1801 – October 17, 1865) was an officer in the United States Navy. In 1848, he led an expedition to the Middle East—specifically the Jordan Valley—for economic, scientific, and religious purposes. The significance of this expedition lies in the fact that it was the first successful American mission to the Jordan Basin and the Dead Sea. Lynch took a keen interest in the region, studying its water and mineral resources; he also advocated for the settlement of Jews in Jordan and Palestine—more than a century and a half ago.