William Barton Rogers (December 7, 1804 – May 30, 1882) was an American geologist, physicist, and educator at William & Mary from 1828 to 1835 and the University of Virginia from 1835 to 1853. In 1861, Rogers founded the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The university opened in 1865 after the American Civil War. Because of his affiliation with Virginia, Mount Rogers, the highest peak in the state, is named after him.