William Peters Hepburn

William Peters Hepburn (November 4, 1833 – February 7, 1916) was an American Republican congressman for Iowa, remembered for the Hepburn Act.

Hepburn was born in Wellsville, Columbiana County, Ohio and raised from the age of seven in Iowa City. Grandson of Matthew Lyon, he was first engaged as an apprentice printer, before studying law. He became prosecuting attorney of Marshall County in 1856 as well as serving as district attorney for the eleventh judicial district from 1856-1861. He was also the clerk to the Iowa House of Representatives.

During the American Civil War he served as an officer in the Second Iowa Cavalry. He moved to Tennessee before returning to Iowa where he was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives from 1881-1887 when he lost his seat. Whilst out of the House, he served as Solicitor of the Treasury under President Benjamin Harrison. He re-entered the House as a Republican representative for Iowa from 1893-1909. During this period he served as Chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. He also sponsored the "Hepburn Act of 1906".

He lost his seat in 1909 to William D. Jamieson. He returned to the practice of law in Clarinda, Iowa and Washington D.C.. He died on February 7, 1916.