William Townsend Aiton is a British Botaniste , born the February 2nd 1766 with Kew and dead the October 9th 1849.

He works, as of his young age, at the sides of his father, William Aiton (1731-1793), with the royal Botanical gardens of Kew. He succeeds to him his death with the head of the Gardens. He also ensures the management of the gardens of the palates of Kensington and Buckingham as well as the Royal Pavilion of Brighton. He takes part in 1804 in the foundation of the Royal Horticultural Society.

He supervises the 2nd edition of the Hortus Kewensis (1810-1813). The accession of Guillaume IV in 1830 mark decline of the responsibilities for Aiton but also the reduction of the financing of the Gardens. It is the transfer of the Gardens, of the crown to the nation, in 1841, which puts makes with this weakening, Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) becomes the first director about it. Aiton, without responsibilities since, resigns in 1845.