Sir William Thomas Makins, 1st Baronet DL (16 March 1840 – 2 February 1906) was a barrister and Conservative politician. Makins was the eldest son of Charles Makins of St. Mark's, Woodhouse, Leeds. He was educated at Harrow School, and at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1862 and went on the Midland Circuit. His directorships included the Great Eastern Railway, and the Gas Light and Coke Company. He was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the 3rd (Stratford) Essex Artillery Volunteer Corps in 1869 and was Honorary Colonel of the unit and its successors from 23 April 1874. He was also a J.P. for Oxfordshire and Essex, and a Deputy Lieutenant for Essex and the City of London'